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the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) is ranked 11th in the world and 6th in the united states in veterinary science according to the 2023 quacquarelli symonds (qs) world university rankings by subject
texas a&m is also the most highly ranked among all southeastern conference (sec) universities with veterinary schools
the vmbs 2023 rankings took a large leap up from 2022 when the vmbs was ranked no 20 worldwide the annually compiled rankings cover a total of 54 disciplines grouped into five broad subject areas
we are delighted by this recognition and we are honored to represent texas a&m university the texas a&m system and the state of texas in the qs world university rankings said dr john august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m this achievement was made possible by our outstanding faculty students and staff who do remarkable work each day at the vmbs to fulfill our teaching research and patient care missions it is always rewarding to see their collective hard work recognized especially on a global and national scale
for more than 100 years the vmbs has been dedicated to enhancing animal and human health through transformational education discovery and innovation patient care and public service that impact our diverse and evolving world
transformational education is at the core of the vmbs existence; this is evident in the fact that the vmbs is one of the largest doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) training programs in the country with a class size of 180 in addition the texas a&m dvm class of 2023s north american veterinary licensing examination first-attempt pass rate was 93% compared to the national average of 79%
the vmbs veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) provides the capstone educational experience for texas a&ms dvm students
the vmth has the distinction of being texas a&ms largest educational laboratory and the states only veterinary medical teaching hospital dvm students completing their fourth-year clinical rotations through the vmbs see almost 30 000 animal cases annually from across north america and receive training in more than two dozen large and small animal veterinary specialties
vmbs faculty and students also turn basic science into novel discoveries that set the course for improving human and animal health; publication citations and the h index which reflects the productivity and impact of a universitys basic science and clinical research activities were among the criteria assessed in the qs rankings
this ranking reflects the high-quality and impact of the translational and basic biomedical research being conducted at our school by our world-class faculty and the students they mentor said dr ramesh vemulapalli vmbs executive associate dean
the vmbs research & graduate studies office administers one of the largest graduate programs at a school of veterinary medicine and veterinary students gain exposure to research through programs such as the veterinary medical scientist research training program and through clinical trials offered within the vmth
in addition through the vmbs veterinary education research & outreach (vero) initiative housed on the west texas a&m university campus in canyon veterinary students get exposure to large animal and mixed animal medicine through vero partnerships with texas thriving livestock and food animal industries as well as with rural veterinary practitioners
the vmbs 2+2 dvm program launched in 2021 offers up to 18 students the opportunity to complete the first two years of their veterinary medical education at vero before joining their peers in college station for their third and clinical years vero also offers opportunities for dvm students to return to the texas panhandle during fourth-year clinical rotations in dairy practice feedlot medicine/surgery cow-calf practice and rural/mixed animal general practice
qs world university rankings are used by prospective students to help identify the leading universities in a particular subject universities are ranked based on journal article citations and by the results of major global surveys of employers and academics
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
three faculty members at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) were among the 25 recipients from across texas a&m university to be recognized with 2023 distinguished achievement awards by the association of former students
the university-level awards honor faculty and staff who exhibit the highest standards of excellence and are held in high esteem by their colleagues
dr larry j suva a professor and head of the vmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology was recognized in the research category while drs johanna heseltine a clinical associate professor and anton hoffman a clinical professor were recognized for teaching
these awards are among the most prestigious available to faculty and staff members at texas a&m recipients are chosen by a campuswide committee of faculty staff students and former students
the recipients will be honored with a commemorative plaque and engraved watch during an awards luncheon on april 24 in the memorial student centers bethancourt ballroom
suva is a leading expert on the skeletal consequences of disease with research interests including breast cancer bone metastasis multiple myeloma fracture healing bone regeneration bone anabolism and the investigation of rare bone diseases and bone infections
a feature of his work throughout his career is a willingness and eagerness to take on difficult and important topics of clinical and social relevance said one nominator dr suvas career and research continue in a steep trajectory the most recent example of which is the work he has had funded by the nih to study fracture healing in the context of the bone disease in downs syndrome
some of suvas most important research contributions have been the discovery of human parathyroid hormone‐related protein (pthrp) and the hormonal regulation of bone metastasis
dr suva is considered one of the worlds foremost experts on pthrp the nominator said he is one of the most recognized and respected scientists in this very important field the impact on the treatment of osteoporosis because of dr suvas seminal discovery is truly remarkable and texas a&m university is fortunate to have recruited such an exceptional scientist to join its ranks
suva joined the vmbs in 2015 and is dedicated to advancing research graduate student success and diversity equity and inclusion at the school
dr suvas life is characterized by enthusiasm for research and devotion to science he nurtures the same enthusiasm in his trainees and he creates an environment in which they can succeed the nominator said all of the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have had the privilege of receiving education and training from dr suva have gone on to successful careers in academia private practice government agencies or large corporations
prior to joining the vmbs suva received his phd in medicine from the university of melbourne (australia) was a postdoctoral researcher at merck and was a faculty member at harvard medical school
heseltine plays an important role in veterinary students preclinical education and in their clinical year at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital her courses generally focus on the urinary tract respiratory system and other aspects of internal medicine
dr heseltine is really an amazing mentor and i look up to her a great deal said one of heseltines former students her willingness and enthusiasm to teach made me eager to learn and fueled my passion for veterinary medicine i appreciate that she was available to us for questions about cases but also for general life questions
heseltines courses rely on student participation and increasingly complex real-world scenarios she also was a vital member of the faculty team that revised texas a&ms veterinary curriculum in 2017
she has contributed to curricular development created novel educational modules generates scholarship focused on teaching and learning and is strongly focused on facilitating the development of lifelong learners one nominator said she has been recognized several times for her excellence as a teacher through the richard h davis award (2016 and 2019) juan carlos robles emanuelli teaching award (2018) the john miliff award for teaching (2020) and an afs school-level teaching award (2022)
in addition to training veterinary students heseltine is an educator and mentor for interns and residents in the small animal teaching hospitals internal medicine service
dr heseltine must act as a role model helping students and residents navigate emotionally charged clients and challenging cases the nominator said she helps her trainees acquire complex physical skills such as heart and lung auscultation as well as interpretation of diagnostics such as ultrasounds and blood work simultaneously dr heseltine helps her students and residents understand best practices in medical decision making and provides clear professional feedback
heseltine joined the vmbs department of small animal clinical sciences in 2014 after earning her dvm degree from the university of saskatchewan in 1998 attaining diplomate status from the american college of veterinary internal medicine in 2004 and spending several years in private practice and other academic teaching positions
hoffman has been a member of the vmbs department of veterinary integrative biosciences for 35 years he has contributed substantially to the education of both veterinary and graduate students
dr anton hoffman embodies what it means to be a superior teacher one nominator said he is not satisfied with the status quo or teaching a set of facts instead dr hoffman thinks outside that box and works to continually improve his teaching and approach to class in order to provide students the most meaningful and long-lasting learning experiences as possible
his courses focus on small and large animal anatomy physiology organ dysfunction and professional and clinical skills in addition to classroom and laboratory teaching hoffman has served as a mentor for many dvm students including two who have gone on to become vmbs faculty members themselves
from the moment i met him it was obvious to me that education was a priority and teaching anatomy was a passion of his said one of hoffmans former students one of dr hoffmans most attributing qualities is his research to deliver creative thought-provoking and appropriate lessons that match all students abilities for example dr hoffman used illustrations and life-sized models to help us understand the intricacies that lie within anatomy
some of hoffmans past awards and recognitions include the zoetis distinguished veterinary teaching award in 2014 the national pfizer distinguished veterinary teaching award in 2011 the chancellors slate award in 2009 and twice being selected as a qualifying examination question writer for the national board of veterinary medical examiners
one of the attributes that makes dr hoffman truly amazing as an instructor is his ability to connect with his students and engage them the nominator said he fosters an atmosphere that ensures students know that they can always go to him whether it is a problem they are having with course content or in their personal lives
hoffman received his dvm degree from texas a&m university in 1986 and spent a brief period at a small animal practice in san antonio before returning to his alma mater in 1987 as an anatomy instructor
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university is often recognized as a leader in selfless service in 1993 the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) established a center dedicated to selflessly serving pets whose owners can no longer provide their care the one-of-a-kind center known as the stevenson companion animal life-care center celebrates its 30th anniversary this march
the stevenson center is a one-of-a-kind facility dedicated to serving companion animals whose owners can no longer do so the center provides a home and embraces pets enrolled in the center as family when they officially become residents at the center each resident is cared for by devoted staff; four doctor of veterinary medicine students who live in the center and care for the residents on nights weekends and holidays; and veterinarians from one of the highest-ranking schools of veterinary medicine in the us
texas a&m is the right place for the stevenson center because of our veterinary hospital and our student residents said dr oj bubba woytek assistant vice president of development who helped raise funds to establish the center the students who live at the stevenson center are veterinarians in training at one of the best schools in the nation and their teachers and mentors at the teaching hospital offer the stevenson center residents veterinary care thats not available at most veterinary clinics
the stevenson center was established thanks to the vision of dr e w ned ellett former head of texas a&ms small animal teaching hospital and monetary donations from the luse foundation and madlin stevenson the centers namesake
mrs stevenson loved animals woytek shared she had so many animals several dogs cats a horse a llama and she loved them all she was a go-getter who worked as an interior designer until she retired in her 90s
in addition to helping fund the stevenson center she also helped decorate the center so that it would feel more homey to residents her pets including her horse and llama joined the stevenson center family when she passed away in 2000 today her nephews and nieces-in-law carry on her tradition of supporting the center named in her honor
since the center was founded the facility has undergone two renovations in order to accommodate more residents a third expansion is underway now and is being overseen by dr sam miller ‘91 who became the centers director in the fall of 2022
the growth of this program has been pretty significant miller explained a big part of our focus is to ensure our facility can accommodate the needs of our residents by providing a safe environment in which they can comfortably interact with the other residents and staff throughout the day much like their previous homes the new addition gives us the opportunity to take in more residents and to ensure they enjoy a home-like environment when they join the stevenson center family
the immense growth the stevenson center has experienced is thanks in large part to dr henry l sonny presnal ‘57 ‘69 who served as director of the stevenson center for 24 years under his direction 122 pets lived out their lives and over 700 pets were enrolled to enter the program
directing the stevenson center is a way to serve both animals and people presnal shared the thing i cherish most is the relationships i have been able to develop at the stevenson center with some of the donors its a relationship that you build over time and its very rewarding
presnal said the stevenson center offers the vmbs a unique opportunity to give back to the community
its important to understand that companion animals are important to the elderly he explained humans and animals have a bond thats special and the stevenson center allows them to live with companion animals without worrying about their care once they can no longer care for their pets themselves
enrolling a pet in the stevenson center family requires the establishment of a permanent endowment the income from this endowment will provide for the care of the pet during its lifetime once the pet no longer requires this income the income will be used to support the stevenson center and the vmbs
a big factor in people being drawn to this program is the fact that were affiliated with located next door to and supported by the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital presnal said adding that the vmth provides all medical care to enrolled pets including wellness and preventative care
ellie greenbaum has served as the associate director of the stevenson center since january 1999
we have the most excellent staff here and thats why it all works she shared everybody here loves these animals as much as their original owners love them and we want nothing but the best for them its an honor to care for these pets and it makes you feel good that you can offer this service to people and their most beloved family members its like giving us their child and trusting us to take good care of them we dont take that responsibility lightly
the exceptional care offered to stevenson center residents attracts the enrollment of new family members from across the country with 32 states represented in the centers current enrollment as well as five from singapore in addition to serving companion animals from around the globe the stevenson center is the retirement home for texas a&ms mascot reveille ix the center also had the honor of homing reveille viii during her retirement as mascot for texas a&m
looking ahead to the stevenson centers next 30 years miller said hed like to see it become a model for future facilities across the nation offering the same service to pets and their families
its a great opportunity to engage members of the public and offer such a valuable service he shared we give those pet owners who value the companionship of pets the comfort and confidence in knowing that if their pets outlive them theyll not only have a home-like environment but also a new family to join that is dedicated to providing the highest quality veterinary care available in the country
the stevenson center will formally celebrate its 30th anniversary with close friends on april 27 those interested in supporting the stevenson center in its next 30 years of service may do so by visiting txag/stevensondonation
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two members of the texas a&m university school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) were among seven recipients honored with awards during the 2023 texas veterinary medical association (tvma) annual conference & expo
stephanie wertman a licensed veterinary technician in the texas a&m large animal teaching hospital (lath) and dr murl bailey a senior professor in the department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology were recognized as the licensed veterinary technician of the year and with the distinguished career achievement award respectively
the tvma awards represent a special moment in the year when colleagues seek to honor their own profession these awards represent so very many impacted people and animals that have been extraordinarily cared for said troy alexander tvma executive director
wertman who joined the vmbs staff in 2011 has worked within the veterinary medicine field for 35 years with duties ranging from being an animal care specialist in the us army to a technician specializing in equine internal medicine at texas a&m
wertman now supervises a team of full-time equine technicians and part-time student assistants in the lath
she is the glue that keeps the team going said one of wertmans nominators i cant possibly think of a more deserving person for this award
as the tvmas licensed veterinary technician of the year she was recognized for her outstanding professional performance including distinctive contributions to advancing the standards of technical practice involvement in community life outside veterinary medicine education of animal owners about the care and welfare of animals and contributions to refining techniques
with the distinguished veterinary career achievement award bailey was recognized and celebrated for his outstanding achievements attained over his almost 60-year career in veterinary medicine
baileys veterinary medicine career began in the us army in 1963 when he joined the veterinary corps while with the veterinary corps he became director of the us army research institute of environmental medicine in natick massachusetts serving in the role from 1968-1970
afterward bailey moved into the army reserves and took a position teaching veterinary medicine at texas a&m now a senior professor bailey has been teaching for the past 53 years
(it was) so impactful seeing the large number of veterinarians trained by dr bailey said tvma president dr jodi long adding that bailey received a standing ovation upon being awarded the distinguished career achievement award he is a very influential teacher
his decades of service to texas a&m students are unequaled agreed dr rosemary lindsey a veterinarian specializing in canine and feline care in fort worth hes a mentor and friend to all
the distinguished career achievement award recognizes a veterinarian for their cumulative record of accomplishments recognitions and professional contributions made; continued strong involvement in organized veterinary medicine at the local state or national levels; and the degree to which the award nominee has aided in educating or informing the public about veterinary medicine over the course of their career
wertman and bailey received their awards during the tvma 2023 awards and installation banquet on march 4
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a new publication explains the novel science behind the first molecular therapeutic for the rare neurogenetic disorder to advance into clinical development
researchers at texas a&m university have developed the first molecular therapeutic for angelman syndrome to advance into clinical development
in a new article published today in science translational medicine dr scott dindot an associate professor and edges fellow in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) department of veterinary pathobiology and his team share the process through which they developed this novel therapeutic candidate also known as 44psl or gtx-102 dindot is also the executive director of molecular genetics at ultragenyx which is leading the development of gtx-102
angelman syndrome (as) is a devastating rare neurogenetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 15 000 live births per year; the disorder is triggered by a loss of function of the maternal ube3a gene in the brain causing developmental delay absent speech movement or balance disorder and seizures
there are no approved therapies for as and the current standard of care is focused on behavioral therapy and controlling specific symptoms specifically the seizures that often affect patients with as
in healthy individuals the copy of the ube3a gene inherited from the mother is expressed in the brain and the copy of the ube3a gene inherited from the father is turned off by another gene called the ube3a antisense (ube3a-as) transcript individuals living with as have mutations that affect the expression or function of the maternal copy of ube3a and as a result they lack the ube3a protein in their brain dindot and his team began their research looking for a way to prevent the silencing of the paternal ube3a gene and reactivate expression of the deficient protein
in their research dindot and his team used different genomic approaches to understand how the ube3a-as transcript is regulated in the brain their work uncovered a previously unknown region in ube3a-as that they believe represents the ancestral origin of the gene in mammals they also believe this region plays a key role in regulating the expression of ube3a-as
parts of this region have remained unchanged for over 30 million years dindot said the ube3a-as transcript is an incredibly complex gene what it is and how it is regulated has been debated for years
the team then developed antisense oligonucleotides (asos) small synthetic molecules comprising dna and rna to target the conserved region in the ube3a-as transcript aso drugs work by binding to a target rna and cutting it causing the gene to stop making the rna
the team found that asos targeting the conserved region effectively turned off ube3a-as which in turn reactivated the expression of the paternal ube3a allele the studies show that the asos reactivated the expression of the paternal ube3a allele and increased ube3a protein in cultured neurons from individuals with as
as a result of this research dindot developed the lead compound referred to as gtx-102 which is now in clinical development
we used a novel approach to designing the asos targeting a very specific part of a gene rather than just giving a drug to treat a symptom dindot said in theory this treatment goes after the heart of the condition
interim data from a phase 1/2 clinical trial of gtx-102 in the united states united kingdom and canada have previously indicated that the compound has demonstrated meaningful improvement in pediatric patients afflicted with as
moving forward our research and findings not only offer promise for as but also provide a path forward for developing aso therapies for other genetic disorders dindot said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
throughout most of history horses and other large animals with broken legs were considered a lost cause with no way to come back from such a devastating injury at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) however broken legs have been fixed in a variety of species thanks to a team of veterinary specialists and innovative surgical techniques and implants
one recent example is tink a standard donkey whose leg was broken when he was only 2 weeks old
tink was born at the blue moon sanctuary a non-profit organization in georgetown that is home to approximately 120 animals the majority of which are donkeys
about six years ago i met my first donkey and i just thought they were the most incredible animals said anna eby the sanctuarys owner its just my personality to need to fix ‘all the things so i started a nonprofit and began rescuing donkeys
tink was inexplicably rejected by his mother soon after birth so eby stepped up to hand-raise the foal and soon formed a strong bond with him
one day soon after while eby was feeding some of the other animals tink wandered too close to an adult donkey and was kicked eby could tell that his leg was most likely broken and rushed the 30-pound foal to her local veterinarian who recommended that she take him to texas a&m for treatment
at the texas a&m large animal teaching hospital (lath) drs jeffery watkins and kati glass have spent their careers developing expertise techniques and implants for repairing broken legs in large animals
tinks radiographs showed a long spiraling fracture of the femur bone in his right hind leg
tink went to surgery soon after he arrived at the lath that night his procedure began shortly after midnight and finished just before 4 am
watkins and glass decided that tink was a candidate for the use of the intramedullary interlocking nail implant specifically designed by watkins for use in fractures of the humerus and femur this same implant has been used successfully to repair fractures in foals and calves up to 500 pounds and even in an adult polar bear
tink was quite a small patient for us said glass a vmbs clinical associate professor in large animal surgery fortunately the interlocking nail fit perfectly and just hours after surgery he was already standing on his leg we were really happy to see that
tink stayed at the lath to recover for a little over three weeks during which time he more than doubled in weight and returned to his happy foal antics according to glass
young animals tend to heal and form new bone really quickly when we can get the broken pieces back into position and stabilize them with appropriate implants glass said their bone just forms around the implant as they grow
once tink returned home to georgetown he spent several months recovering at a friends barn before eventually returning to blue moon sanctuary
hes just been spoiled to death he doesnt quite know how to be a donkey because hes had so much human interaction eby said but hes very interested in his new donkey friends in fact hes kind of a chick magnet
his injury was unfortunate but it couldnt have turned out better thanks to texas a&m she said my vet told me that theres literally nowhere else in the world that could have done this procedure for him i think thats pretty incredible
today now that tink is fully grown you would never know that he had suffered a broken leg as a foal
a lot of people have heard and may even say that if a horse breaks its leg you cant fix it many times however there are options glass said while we cant fix all broken bones yet we are constantly improving our knowledge techniques and implants thankfully because of this and an owner committed to his care that old adage was not true for this donkey it has been exciting to watch tink grow into a donkey who youd never know had this issue as a foal
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr johanna heseltine clinical assistant professor of internal medicine in the department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) has been named a 2023 recipient of the provost academic professional track faculty teaching excellence award
the award encourages recognizes and rewards faculty who provide students with meaningful learning experiences who embrace effective teaching approaches and who value student-centered learning heseltine contributes to seven pre-clinical courses for doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) students and teaches in the clinical environment in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
her outstanding teaching efforts yield outstanding veterinary work performed by aggie veterinarians across the country
heseltine was nominated by dr jonathan levine vscs department head professor and helen mcwhorter chair
much of dr heseltines teaching occurs in the clinical environment where she directly instructs dvm students in the art of medicine levine explained that instruction involves modeling clinical excellence actively discussing medical reasoning and decision-making and providing students with feedback on often-subtle clinical skills such as palpation and auscultation these interactions are essential to generating practice-ready veterinarians
heseltines teaching includes lectures hands-on skills labs critical-thinking sessions and small-group discussions
dr heseltine is a wonderful clinician one of heseltines students said in a recent course evaluation she encourages independent thought and critical thinking during rounds she respects students time she gives students professional advice and recognizes the goals of each student and tailors feedback appropriately
associate dean for professional programs dr karen cornell said heseltines commitment to supporting aggies in their veterinary education extends beyond the classroom
she also serves as a one-on-one mentor for eight veterinary students who wish to focus on small animal practice cornell explained she is well-respected by the students and sought after for advice and mentorship dr heseltine also mentors graduate veterinarians who are in a clinical residency training program she has also presented her pedagogical research at national meetings including the veterinary educators collaborative
heseltine sets a high bar for clinical teaching in the texas a&m veterinary medicine teaching hospital according to dr katie mccool who met heseltine when she served on the vmbs faculty from 2018-2022
in the teaching hospital dr heseltines daily student rounds frequently cited as the most impactful portion of their clinical rotation use case-based material generated from authentic real-world patients mccool said using these cases dr heseltine empowers students to apply their knowledge of medicine to real-life scenarios during these discussions dr heseltine also guides students in navigating the unique career challenges associated with veterinary practice including challenges related to hospital staffing the role of owner finances in case management and client communication
heseltine is one of 10 faculty members at texas a&m to receive the provost academic professional track faculty teaching excellence award in 2023 each recipient receives $5 000 thanks to the generosity of the marie m and james h galloway foundation to support teaching innovations and teaching-related projects and activities recipients hold this award title for life
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when something has a champion it moves said dr jonathan levine head of the small animal clinical sciences department (vscs) in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
what may seem like years in the making the vmbs dream of a new next-generation small animal teaching and research hospital has built momentum under dr john august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine and has quickly gained support from texas a&m university president dr m katherine banks
by having important conversations with the right stakeholders and administrators dean august has led these people whove been dreaming about a new small animal teaching and research hospital to develop it and run with it levine said
during her 2022 state of the university address banks referenced a new veterinary teaching and research hospital as a priority for the university adding that the aspiration for this hospital is for it to be the best in the world
this hospital will provide hands-on educational workspace for veterinary students and a state-of-the-art laboratory for animal health and translational research she said during the address faculty members in the vet school will partner with colleagues across the university to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies
with several key milestones reached the vmbs has forged ahead with developing a vision for a next-generation teaching and research hospital that builds on the schools 100-plus years of excellence in teaching service and research while keeping at heart texas a&ms core land-grant mission and above all the universitys focus on student success
among the reasons vmbs faculty staff students and administrators have dreamed of a new small animal teaching and research hospital is that this facility is more than just a buildingits a symbol of what could be of boundless opportunities and possibilities
its a dream that is driven by the interconnection between student success leading-edge patient care and clinical trials
our vision is building upon strengths we already have levine said the beautiful thing about it is that a lot of the pieces are here
our faculty our students and our staffwe cant underscore the staff pieceare so passionate about what they do; their love for animals and the human-animal bond shines through said dr stacy eckman associate dean for hospital operations
clients see the rapport you build in the hospital the expertise and the passion when they walk in the door; they leave feeling like somebody deeply cared about them its hard to put into words but its a shared love for something; whether its healing the dog or the dog itself its a shared passion
the fact is that people do remarkable work in our small animal teaching hospital (sath) august said thats the quandary (in needing a new teaching and research hospital)the quality of work is amazing
that quality of work can be witnessed in many ways
chief among those are the exponential growth in caseload which is more than six times higher than it was in 1981 when the current sath was opened; the expansion of clinical research with at least twice as many services offering clinical trials now compared to 10 years ago; and the increase in services themselves from two in 1981 to 16 today
all of these factors reflect the trust that clients have for sath clinicians in caring for their beloved companion animals and the importance of the specialized care the sath offers patients that is unavailable anywhere else
perhaps most importantly these factors work together to ensure that vmbs students receive the exceptional education one expects from one of the most elite doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) programs in the country
its really all about the students the teaching hospital is the pinnacle of their learning and we have the only veterinary medical teaching hospital in texas eckman said we do an exceptional job of teaching clinical medicine
we gather a diverse caseload at the tertiary-care level and while a lot of the cases are not necessarily things that students are going to be seeing in private practice the exposure they get to a lot of different scenarios gives them the opportunity to practice everything all at once she said that is really critical when teaching students
capitalizing on that good work and synergy means weighing how the sath can both better serve texas citizens and animals as well as the students who begin their careers as aggie veterinarians within the hospitals wallswhile also looking to the future
theres this tremendous opportunity to do so much more levine said we continue to innovate in the clinic with our interventional radiology with our minimally invasive surgeries with some procedures you cant get anywhere else in the state and the us this is about doing more of that; its about access
programs like the vscs underserved communities internshipcreated to broaden the saths reach across the stateand the roach family student community outreach surgical programwhich allows students to gain more surgical experience while offering free procedures for the pets of low-income brazos valley residentsare good examples of ways a new teaching hospital can combine education and patient care while looking to the future
dean august has been particularly good about reminding us about the importance of the external impact we have through our students through serving our state and through innovating levine said where we see gaps weve got to fill them we must be thinking of big ideas; we should be working on a few each year that build on top of one another
part of that impact too comes from research and clinical trials which offer students insight into non-clinical veterinary career paths and showcase how research can offer real hope to animal owners while also supporting the advancement of medicine that impacts animals and human beings
for august this combination of ideas prominently places the vmbs within banks vision of a texas a&m that stands at the forefront of medical and technological innovation
if we look at the small animal teaching hospital as a research-intensive tertiary care center we can aspire to become a teaching and research hospital comparable to md anderson he said nobody worries that md anderson is a research-driven hospital you go there to be part of a clinical trial you go there because it is the best in the world you go there because it is cutting-edge you go there because of the high level of compassionate care people understand thats the role a&m should have in the care of companion animals
likewise with other health- and medical-focused schools colleges and departments at texas a&m there is an abundance of mutually beneficial opportunities to collaborate on topics like medical devices and issues that directly impact both animals and human beings
we have an opportunity to look at what role a small animal teaching and research hospital should have within our research-intensive land-grant institution that focuses on the life sciences as texas a&m university does august said
since the small animal teaching hospital has opened the number of referral hospitals in texas and in the nation has exploded; we no longer need to view ourselves as just a referral hospital he said we have a very unique opportunity to collaborate with others at our university in those disciplines who share our interest in animal and human health and to develop a model for a small animal teaching and research hospital that is quite different from everything else that has been developed nationwide in the last decade
as texas human and animal populations grow and projected spending within the pet industry nationwide swells to $250-300 billion by 2029 it will be more important than ever to have a flexible space where students can excel clinicians can continue to provide leading-edge patient care and basic and clinical scientists can come together to unravel some of lifes most pressing medical mysterieswhile still being conscious that these increased needs will require more and more people to achieve these goals
even though we are a tertiary care hospital we want to keep looking for opportunities to impact the whole state levine said
eckman graduated from texas a&ms veterinary school in 2001 20 years after the current sath building opened as a faculty member and now associate dean eckman says that a lot has changed at the sath but theres one thing that hasnt
the hospital is the same hospital she said thats important because our faculty and staffing have grown exponentially and our student numbers have grown considerably but were in the same exact footprint
august shared a similar experience when he joined the vmbs as head of the of the department of small animal medicine and surgery in 1986
in some ways the building was already outdated when i came here even though it was quite new at that time he said it was designed to provide more space but not necessarily designed for the future so today we have a 40-year-old building that doesnt reflect the quality of the work going on inside
while those in the sath are doing tremendous work the current facility ranks at the bottom in nearly all criteria compared to peer institutions; the vmbs nationally ranked curriculum and exceptional patient care are being accomplished in cramped spaces that present both challenges in managing increasing caseloads and potential safety and biosecurity challenges that impact the schools aspirations in teaching patient care and research
that the sath continues to literally push its boundaries speaks to the resiliency of the faculty staff and students according to levine
our faculty our students and our staff are very flexible; they meet challenges with a can-do attitude levine said thats a little bit cliché but to be able to achieve what theyve achieved in those spaces hats off to them
but the limitations that faculty staff and students experience are sometimes more than just an inconvenience
we do have to divert cases periodicallyevery seven to 14 days and sometimes more frequentlybecause we dont have enough room in our icu; we try to limit that as much as we can and our er of course is still open for emergencies eckman said but if we only have so much space we can only see so many cases; above all we need to guarantee that we have adequate space and resources to ensure we are providing the highest quality care
weighing the impact of an overcrowded hospital on students is especially important because it can be directly related to student success
as a clinician if i think about a caseload i had when there were 132 students i need to increase my caseload so that the 180 students get the same learning opportunities eckman said if were limited on how many cases we can bring in and where we can put them we have to be creative about how were teaching students and if we have to say no to cases wanting to come in because we dont have the space for them its a lost opportunity
the limitations the sath experiences are compounded by the increase in technology that has occurred in medicine since the 1980s
in the 80s our operating rooms werent built for all of the scope towers and monitors eckman said by the time you add equipment the room has shrunk considerably; we have just far exceeded our capacity
our ability to teach is still awesome our patient care is awesome she said but we cant build on that right now we cant see more patients we cant teach differently we cant do any more research we cant do any more innovative surgeries we cant do any more in our current footprint
august sees the new small animal teaching and research hospital as having a unique opportunity to play a central role in the next phase of texas a&ms growth and stature
there was an attempt back in 2013 to expand the small animal teaching hospital in the end the finances werent there; they had to be put into the educational complex august said in many ways its a godsend that we didnt update or replace it 10 years ago because it probably wouldve already been out of date
we have to make sure that the new hospital is designed in a way that we have flexibility over the next decades for handling the sickest most complicated patients and not be faced with a situation where in five years were wishing our icu was bigger he said
at the same time we will need exceptional primary care space for client patient and student interaction to provide adequate space for veterinary medical students to develop the foundational competencies needed before entering the profession with immediate confidence august continued
now that the project has support from texas a&ms president the texas a&m university system and the texas legislature the vmbs is looking ahead to the pieces that need to be completed before breaking groundincluding submitting a program of requirements for approval by the texas a&m system board of regents in february 2023 which will move the project into the engineering and architectural planning phases
as the vmbs administrative and development teams work toward bringing the schools dream to fruition with the hopes of hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony by 2026 the support of donors will be critical
this new teaching hospital has the potential to have tremendous impact not only within texas a&m but outside as well institutions exist for the positive impact they have on society at large levine said were going to be able to change not only the educational landscape for students preparing to enter the workforce not only the pet health care landscape but also there may be some real scientific innovation that comes along with it so i think its going to be amazing for donors as well
join texas a&m and the vmbs in laying the foundation for the next generation of exceptional student success leading-edge patient care and impactful research together we can share the aggie spirit with the world through the advancement of medicine that impacts animals and human beings you can support the schools mission through endowed funds for research faculty and student scholarships additionally naming opportunities starting at $25 000 abound in the new facility and spaces can be named in memory or honor of a special person or pet
if youd like to be part of pushing veterinary medicine to new heights at texas a&m contact larry walker 97 the assistant vice president of development at the texas a&m foundation at lwalker@txamfoundationcom
support construction with gifts of $25 or more online at txag/nextgenvethospital
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note: this story originally appeared in the winter 2023 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
nine texas a&m university researchers made key contributions to the first national-scale covid-19 animal surveillance study that analyzed companion animal covid-19 data from across the united states the study was led by the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) and aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological features of covid-19 in companion animals
the unique collaborative effort also included researchers from county health departments state health departments other universities and national level labs
texas data collected by texas a&m researchers contributed the greatest number of animal cases reported by any state to the project the texas a&m covid-19 & pets project which began in the summer of 2020 was partially funded by the cdc and proved instrumental in providing the texas data
the covid-19 & pets project at texas a&m included active household pet sampling for two years dr sarah hamer a veterinary epidemiologist at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences explained
two other faculty members helped to guide the research dr rebecca fischer from the school of public health who helped enable the researchers relationship with the county health department and access to human cases on campus and dr gabriel hamer from texas a&ms department of entomology (college of agriculture and life sciences) who provided biosafety level 3 (bsl3) capacity and overall diagnostic support other texas a&m contributors include postdoctoral researchers dr italo zecca and dr christopher roundy phd student ed davila dvm/phd student rachel busselman and research associates lisa auckland and dr wendy tang
dogs and cats can and have become infected from their owners throughout the pandemic but often experience mild self-limiting illness with no strong evidence of onward transmission
weve detected more than 100 cases in cats and dogs in texas this high level is because we were actively looking for the cases rather than relying on passive surveillance sarah said i dont think theres much difference between texas and other states that would place our animals at a higher risk of covid-19 infection the increased caseload is simply a result of our active efforts to test companion animals living in households with confirmed cases of covid-19 often only a day or two after their owner tested positive early and well into the pandemic
the cdc report is the first study to summarize nationally compiled surveillance data on the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of natural covid-19 infection in companion animals
its not rare to find dogs and cats that have tested positive for this infection sarah said theyre the animals that people have closest relationships with many pathogens sars-cov-2 included require close contact for transmission to occur so living with our pets and sharing our bedrooms and beds with them especially when we are sick can provide opportunities for transmission
the paper notes that 72% of animals identified through passive surveillance exhibited clinical signs while only 27% of animals identified through active surveillance exhibited clinical signs clinical signs varied by species with sneezing and lethargy being most common in cats whereas lethargy and cough were most common in dogs
it concludes that animals whose samples test positive for infection with sars-cov-2 are commonly exposed to people who have tested positive for the virus
[these data] provided strong evidence that people most often owners are the source of infection for their pets the cdc paper reads [these data also] supported guidance developed by federal one health partners that includes recommendations that when people are sick or have a suspected covid-19 infection they should avoid contact with animals just like they would with other people and that they should wear a mask around both people and animals when ill with covid-19
the research also concludes that more data is needed to determine the likelihood and frequency of pet-to-pet or pet-to-person transmission within households further without continued one health collaboration across multiple sectors to pursue more extensive surveillance many sars-cov-2 infections in companion animals will remain undetected
the opportunity to work on this collaborative project helped strengthen texas a&ms relationship with the cdc particularly with the cdc one health office who deployed two cdc epidemiologists to work alongside the texas a&m researchers
sarah said the study represents the power of collaboration across the country and that it will help her in ongoing covid-19 research
theres a lot to be learned about wildlife that may interact with people or pets including mice and rats raccoons opossums coyotes as well as deer and these are all animals that were sampling now sarah shared its important to understand how covid-19 is affecting these animals because even though humans have new tools treatments and vaccines to combat the virus these tools are not widely available for animals
in many cases we showed infected animals didnt seem to get sick from the virus but we feel it is important to study these animal infections because different viral variants can have different health outcomes also under the right circumstances the virus might spill back from these animals into people and start making people sick again she said
viruses that spill back might have mutations some of which might help the virus evade therapeutics and vaccines
fischer said she agrees about the importance of their continued covid-19 research efforts
it is so important for epidemiologists in both the human and animal health domains to work with each other as well as with public health agencies and scientists in other fields to learn ways to preserve and improve health across the board fischer explained these transdisciplinary collaborations are critical even more so when faced with the emergence of a new infectious disease that threatens the entire community the pets study provides important evidence about how this particular virus moves about our homes communities and families including our fur families and offers yet more insight on how we can take small steps to help keep everyone safe and healthy
gabriel said there are lessons to be learned from the covid-19 pandemic experience
the covid-19 pandemic is a good example of the need to repurpose equipment and facilities to address this new public health threat gabriel added in our case the high-throughput and high-containment diagnostic and research capacity working with mosquito-borne viruses allowed us to use the same equipment and facilities for testing animals for infection with or exposure to sars-cov-2 the ability to test animals for evidence of past exposure to sars-cov-2 required a bsl3 laboratory which was made possible thanks to existing partnerships with the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory and the texas a&m global health research complex
the collaborative efforts that made this research possible also provide important steppingstones in understanding covid-19 and what the future of the infection may hold for animals and humans alike sarah said she is proud to work alongside the nine texas a&m-affiliated researchers who contributed to the study
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
additional data was released by the texas a&m superfund center on march 9 and is available on twitter
independent data collection by the texas a&m superfund research center and carnegie mellon university has corroborated the us environmental protection agencys (epa) findings on air quality in east palestine ohio
researchers from the two universities both partners in the texas a&m superfund research center used carnegie mellons center for atmospheric particle studies mobile air quality lab to test for several pollutants on feb 20-21 less than three weeks after a norfolk southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed near the city
their data agreed with the epa conclusions that concentrations of benzene toluene xylene and vinyl chloride were below minimal risk levels for intermediate duration (15 days to 1 year) exposures as set by the agency for toxic substances and disease registry neither the epa nor the independent researchers detected any hot spots for these chemicals or areas where emissions from specific sources can expose local populations to elevated health risks
they also confirmed levels of acrolein that varied greatly both spatially and over time and occasionally rose above safety thresholds for long-term health concerns
acrolein is a colorless liquid chemical that becomes vapor when heated and can cause lung damage when inhaled over a long period of time
according to the corroborating data from the texas a&m superfund center and center for atmospheric particle studies at carnegie mellon acrolein levels in east palestine ranged from five times lower to three times higher than levels in downtown pittsburgh which has levels consistent with most major us cities these levels are of note because east palestine is in a rural area and would be expected to have lower concentrations
going forward there needs to be continued monitoring not just for acrolein but also to figure out if there are other chemicals in the air that will be a concern said dr weihsueh chiu a professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and deputy director of the superfund center but i wouldnt say that any of our data suggests an immediate safety hazard
as of right now many of the long-term implications of the disaster are still unknown
the federal and state authorities are recognizing that they need to broaden the scope of their air quality measurements and to bring additional sensitive equipment said dr ivan rusyn a university professor of toxicology in the vmbs and director of the superfund center the epa has given notice that this week theyre deploying a mobile sampling laboratory that can do testing throughout town and the area as opposed to the fixed monitors that they have been deploying and the handheld monitors that are not very sensitive so the overall response is trending in the right way
providing an objective corroboration of the epas data is especially important in east palestine where many residents are struggling to trust the governments conclusions
our colleagues at both the state and federal epa have tremendous expertise in this area but they could have done a little better of a job communicating exactly what ‘safe means in terms of duration of exposure and types of chemicals and mixture rusyn said one additional reason to continue testing is for communication purposes to really reassure the residents and explain to them where the levels after the disaster are as compared to a baseline
how involved the superfund and carnegie mellon researchers will be in additional testing will depend on their ability to conduct testing without interfering with the epas work
if we can help with additional sampling we will rusyn continued what weve done in the past both at carnegie mellon and here at texas a&m is provide additional measurements over time weeks and month after to understand whether the levels after the disaster were abnormal or were just within the range unless you have data after the disaster you really do not know whether youre measuring spikes or youre measuring background
in addition to rusyn and chiu the other researchers involved in the data collection and review were dr natalie johnson an associate professor at the texas a&m school of public health and dr albert presto a research professor at carnegie mellon university graduate students ruby hernandez and mariana saitas and undergraduate research assistant lyssa losa participated in the air sampling campaign in east palestine on feb 20-21
institutional support to the superfund center from the texas a&m division of research was used to support sampling and data analysis
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
inspired by their love of animals and passion for aggieland linda and dennis clark 68 71 have pledged a $20 million lead gift through the texas a&m foundation to support construction of a new next-generation small animal teaching & research hospital at texas a&m university the cutting-edge facility will replace the current small animal teaching hospital and enable students faculty and staff in the universitys school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences to further elevate its already world-renowned veterinary medicine program
the couple hopes their gift will challenge and inspire others to support the construction project which still requires a significant investment from private donors to reach fruition
the clarks generosity is inspiring and their lead gift will be truly transformational said dr m katherine banks texas a&m university president this new hospital will provide hands-on educational workspaces for veterinary students and state-of-the-art laboratories for animal health and translational research enabling our researchers faculty and outstanding students to continue their work and provide the best animal care in the world
for the clarks the gift culminated from linda and dennis pride in texas a&m the couples passion for animals the transformative experiences with animal care and research they have witnessed at the veterinary school and the opportunity of a lifetime to provide future generations of aggies with the resources to revolutionize their field
while it was considered advanced and spacious when it opened in 1981 the current small animal teaching hospital has struggled to accommodate its ever-growing occupancy spurred by booming demand for veterinary medicine practitioners and a rise in caseloads increasingly complex procedures requiring more sophisticated equipment training and staff have also pushed the hospital to its limits making for crowded workspaces since its opening the number of services the hospital offers has expanded from two to 19 while the annual caseload has increased from around 3 000 per year in 1981 to approximately 23 000 today
this university has an extraordinary veterinary school with talented people doing exciting research that will not only improve animal care but may also impact humans down the road this gift was a big decision for us and it ultimately came from us asking ourselves ‘how can we facilitate whats going on and help make it be the best it can be
still thanks to its talented students faculty and staff the school has established itself among the best in the country ranking fourth in the nation according to us news and world report as a specialty care center and referral hospital the teaching hospitals clinicians have seen patients from all 50 states puerto rico canada and mexico since 2010
dr john august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine looks forward to the new facilitys ability to better facilitate outstanding educational experiences exceptional patient care that supports the human-animal bond and clinical trials that bring scientists together from across texas a&m and around the world to solve medical mysteries that benefit both animals and human beings
our primary goal is to provide exemplary companion animal primary care education for our veterinary students he said at the same time we aspire to become a research-intensive tertiary-care center that is recognized as the best in the world a place people come to because it is cutting-edge and because of the high level of compassionate care the clarks understand thats the role texas a&m should have in the care of companion animals and we are so grateful for their generosity
the new next-generation teaching hospital will match the abilities of the passionate faculty and staff within its walls by radically expanding in size updating technological features devoting space to house future advanced research equipment and offering welcoming spaces for its clientele in addition to private dollars the project has received funding from the texas legislature and texas permanent university fund
updating this facility has been a university goal for some time said tyson voelkel 98 president and ceo of the texas a&m foundation but it needed investment from outstanding former students and philanthropic partners like the clarks who were willing to make this monumental gift and build a brighter future for the university they have seen what this school and its people are capable of and they know that aggies will fully utilize this new teaching hospital to push their field forward
dennis graduated from texas a&m in 1968 with a bachelors degree in political science and earned a masters in management from the university in 1971 he was a member of the corps of cadets and was commissioned into the us army after his active duty he began a career in the restaurant industry during which he met linda in 1986 the couple founded encore restaurants eventually becoming franchise owners of 39 sonic drive-in locations throughout the dallas-fort worth area during this same period they also developed a successful commercial real estate development business focusing on restaurant retail and office projects
coming to texas a&m was a watershed event in my life dennis said it taught me about personal discipline leadership and taking pride in what i did my experience in the corps of cadets was life-changing and many of the relationships i made during that time continue today linda and i are deeply involved in this universitys academic and athletic programs because texas a&m is part of who we are
before their gift to support the new teaching hospital the clarks generously contributed to the 2015 kyle field redevelopment campaign named the football performance nutrition addition to the davis player development center and created two endowed faculty chairs in the veterinary school
in 2013 sonic presented the couple with the troy smith award the companys most prestigious accolade for franchisee owners the clarks have since sold all but three of their franchise locations but dennis says they have no retirement plans for now i enjoy the relationships and challenges that come with being involved in our business he said i just cant imagine not having something to do every day
our primary goal is to provide exemplary companion animal primary care education for our veterinary students at the same time we aspire to become a research-intensive tertiary-care center that is recognized as the best in the world a place people come to because it is cutting-edge and because of the high level of compassionate care
animals have always been an integral part of our lives linda said we consider ours to be part of our family at their ranch in argyle texas the couple owns four dogs (having owned as many as eight at a time) 43 horses and a cat linda has tolerated the large number of bird dogs that live in the house with ustheyre family and ive tolerated her cats so its always been a cooperative environment dennis joked
as longtime clients of the veterinary school the couple has experienced texas a&m veterinarians outstanding quality of care firsthand two of their dogs labrador retrievers molly and cadbury underwent tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgerycanine knee replacementsat the current small animal teaching hospital the surgeon dr brian saunders 98 01 05 holds one of the two faculty chairs the clarks endowed through the school
weve just been so impressed by dr saunders and the rest of the faculty weve interacted with dennis said he told us about some of his work on the regeneration of bone tissue through stem cells and his collaboration with bioengineering researchers at texas a&m and it was just amazing their conversations with saunders also highlighted the need for a new facility as it became apparent the researchers team could do even more with an updated space
this university has an extraordinary veterinary school with talented people doing exciting research that will not only improve animal care but may also impact humans down the road linda said this gift was a big decision for us and it ultimately came from us asking ourselves ‘how can we facilitate whats going on and help make it be the best it can be
beyond the tangible benefit of providing a massive overhaul to the veterinary schools facilities the couple sees their gift as a continuation of the universitys heritage agriculture has always been an important part of texas a&ms origins as a land-grant college dennis explained our veterinary school plays a great role in agriculture through caring for animals and maintaining the states livestock industry
the state will need texas a&ms leadership more and more as its human and animal populations grow in the coming decades and with 70% of us households owning at least one companion animal the demand for veterinary care isnt going away anytime soon now more than ever the state nation and world need clinicians and researchers who can care for animals educate future practitioners and seek solutions to lingering medical mysteries affecting humans and their furry companions alike thanks to the clarks those veterinary innovators will soon have a fitting home in aggieland
naming opportunities starting at $25 000 abound in the new facility and spaces can be named in memory or honor of a special person or pet if youd like to be part of pushing veterinary medicine to new heights at texas a&m please contact:
larry walkerassistant vice president of developmenttexas a&m foundation9794584032lwalker@txamfoundationcom
give to the hospitals construction online at giveam/smallanimalhospital
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a group of texas a&m veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) students recently hosted the schools first veterinary education day a high-energy education-driven event during which approximately 200 elementary-aged children from underrepresented populations in bryan-college station (bcs) experienced hands-on learning opportunities and explored the field of veterinary medicine
organized and hosted by vmbs doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) students the first veted day on feb 25 featured a teddy bear hospital station which provided a hands-on introduction to surgical practice through an adult-supervised stuffed-animal surgery experience; a special reading of whats a real doctor by dr cherice roth a 2013 dvm graduate and the author of the picture book which was also signed and given to each child; a reptile room which was popular with the veted day participants; presentations on animal care and guide dog interactions; and photos with texas a&ms mascot reveille
gregory johnson brought his two daughters to veted day and said they had a blast while exploring the field of veterinary medicine
this is important because it gives our kids an opportunity to be able to explore their potential johnson explained there are some who dont know veterinary medicine is a possible career and this gives them time to say ‘hey you know what this has awakened something within me and i want to become a veterinarian so this is a great opportunity and experience
kids like my daughters get to explore and define their potential on the inside of them at events like this he said it awakens some of them and inspires them in their education and future careers
as a student-led event veted day was entirely planned and implemented by a committee of 16 student leaders who desired to host an outreach event for underserved children in the bcs community who otherwise might not be exposed to veterinary medicine according to hannah lam and kathleen gartner who are third-year dvm students and co-directors of veterinary education day
its really important when youre young to dream big and find new passions gartner said if you can start that passion early that can help give children the intrinsic motivation to continue with that passion its super valuable and i dont think thats something that anyone can take away from them
the vmbs students who hosted the event partnered with the reach project a nonprofit organization that aims to give back to texas a&ms essential aggies the contract and service workers on texas a&ms campus
opportunities like these are truly transformational; many times these children have never been to the texas a&m campus and have no idea what it means to be a veterinarian said max gerall ‘18 the founder of reach when someone grows up in a neighborhood where everyone has a service job the youth in those neighborhoods seldom learn about any other forms of work this was a chance to help expand their horizons and to further include them in our aggie family
likewise gartner said it was important to the dvm students to give back to the families of the people who prepare their cafeteria meals clean their classrooms and maintain the facilities in which they become veterinarians texas a&ms essential aggies maintain nearly 5 000 acres feed almost 68 00 students campuswide and clean more than 200 buildings on a daily basis
they pour so much into the school and a lot of times they are the unsung heroes of our community gartner said it can be easy to walk by the cafeteria or the bathroom and take the work that happens within them for granted those workers often go unnoticed its really important to make them feel seen and appreciated its also important to make sure they feel a sense of community because they play such important roles in making our community the place we know and love
the inaugural veterinary education day was supported by more than 130 student volunteers along with key faculty and staff members who contributed to the outreach programs success
the veterinary students faculty and staff who volunteered to work the event were genuinely excited about the opportunity to connect with people and to serve lam said selfless service is one of the core values at texas a&m and i think were all pretty passionate about it in the veterinary community our profession thrives when we get to work with the local community and see the value of what we do from a different perspective
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while it is generally accepted that exercise can benefit a persons overall health a recently published paper has found a direct link between muscle contraction and a reduction in breast cancer
in the paper published in the journal frontiers in physiology a team of texas a&m researchers concludes that a currently unspecified factor released during exercise suppresses signaling within breast cancer cells which reduces tumor growth and can even kill the cancerous cells
for this study we took a deeper look into the relationship between people who exercise more and have less of a risk of cancer; previously it was believed that there wasnt anything mechanistically linked rather it was just the general benefits seen in your body because of a healthy lifestyle said dr amanda davis first author on the paper and a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) these data are exciting because they show that during muscle contraction the muscle is actually releasing some factors that kill or at least decrease the growth of neoplastic (abnormal often cancerous) cells
the researchers also found that the factors inherently reside in muscle and are released into the bloodstream no matter what a persons usual activity level is or how developed their muscles are
our results suggest that whether you consistently exercise or you just get up and walk when youre not used to working out these factors are still being released from the muscle davis said even simple forms of muscle contraction whether it be going on a walk or getting up to dance to your favorite song may play a role in fighting breast cancer
the big message is to get up and move she continued you dont have to be an olympic-level athlete for these beneficial effects to occur during muscle contraction; being physically fit doesnt make you more likely to release this substance
to measure the level of factors released by exercised muscle davis trained rats to complete a moderate intensity exercise program consistent with the american college of sports medicines recommendations for people
they ran on treadmills for five weeks and we gradually increased the incline she said
although davis team could not identify an exact minimum muscle contraction time necessary for the effect they did note that the longer the contraction session lasted the more factors were released
based upon the study results her general advice for promoting the release of the factors is to follow the protocols recommended by the american college of sports medicinenamely 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercise for at least five days a week this could include brisk walking dancing or biking according to the american heart association
regular exercise could not only lead to disrupted communication in the cancerous cells to stop their growth but the factors released by exercise may also play a role in preventing breast cancers development in the first place
the decreased risk of breast cancer with exercise comes from the idea that if you have pre-neoplastic cells and youre exercising a lot and slowing their growth maybe those precancerous cells can be destroyed by the body before they start taking over davis said
the big message is to get up and move you dont have to be an olympic-level athlete for these beneficial effects to occur during muscle contraction; being physically fit doesnt make you more likely to release this substance
further studies are being conducted to determine the exact identity of the factors being released by muscle davis suggests that they could be peptides called myokines released by muscle fibers and researchers currently in the department of kinesiology at texas a&m are looking into the possibility of the factors being micrornas or other novel molecules
because davis research also found that the presence of albumin was necessary for the beneficial effects of exercise to occur she believes that whatever the factors are they are carried through the blood by albumin a common carrier protein produced in the liver
davis recognizes additional research is needed to clarify if resistance exercise like lifting weights has the same effect as aerobic exercise activating larger muscle groups as seen in resistance exercise may lead to an increased stimulatory effect she said
davis work focused on the luminal a line of breast cancer the most common type that makes up approximately 60% of breast cancer cases she saw similar but more varied effects with other types of breast cancer and with different cell lines
while the beneficial effects of exercise are also strongly correlated with decreased risk of prostate and colon cancers there is still much work to be done in identifying which cancers and their subtypes will respond best to exercise
these are definitely exciting data we have concerning exercise and breast cancer davis said however exercise is not a 100% guarantee further research in this area will help to identify why some people who work out regularly are still diagnosed with cancer
there have been many different signaling pathways indicated in cancer development she continued therefore more studies concerning what pathways are influenced by exercise will be needed to determine which types of cancers would benefit from exercise and which types would not
in addition there are many other confounding factors that impact a persons risk of getting cancer like smoking age genetics and other comorbidities
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
mandy zachgo a licensed veterinary technician supervisor in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences was recently appointed to the texas veterinary medical associations (tvma) board of directors as the representative for licensed veterinary technicians (lvts)
the tvma board of directors includes 26 doctors of veterinary medicine (dvms) who represent 19 districts in texas and just one lvt who is responsible for representing lvts across the entire state
zachgo will be the second person to hold the lvt representative position on the tvma board when she begins her duties in march
i was voted in by my peers state-wide whereas for the dvm seats dvms in each district vote for their representative zachgo said so its a big ask but im very excited for the opportunity and am really honored to be the voice of all licensed vet techs in texas
the position was added to the tvma board in 2017 as demand for lvts increased ensuring lvts could speak on matters that impact their education and work
tvma makes big legislative decisions on the advancement of veterinary medicine and licensed vet techs need to have a voice in those decisions zachgo explained weve gained momentum in the last two years on what licensed vet techs can do based on their education and who can call themselves a vet tech but theres still this push to allow licensed technicians to do more to help the veterinary staff
during her three-year appointment zachgo plans to focus on lvt title protection and the improvement of technician utilization by providing dvms knowledge about licensed technician education encouraging them to hire technicians and motivating them to utilize current technicians better
theres a shortage of veterinarians and technicians but the shortage for technicians is likely because of utilization issues since there is no shortage of vet tech schools zachgo said we need to empower dvms to understand why its important to have licensed vet techs on their staff and how it can benefit them if licensed vet techs are utilized properly in clinics they can be valuable assets to the team
zachgo also plans to advocate for lvts and encourage lvt participation in state and national veterinary organizations through her position as a faculty member for the veterinary technician program at blinn college
there are about 222 lvt members in tvma versus about 2 200 licensed in the state zachgo said we have a lot of work to do to get more lvt members to make up that difference and a focus of mine is getting more involvement from the technicians
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
danielle and axel villas relationship began with love at first sight
danielle was visiting a park in her hometown of san antonio that was hosting an expo for dogs when she came across a litter of 10 yorkshire terrier puppies the runt of the litter caught her eye she noticed he was alone in a corner and picked him up
the two have been inseparable ever since
now 14 years later danielle is a fourth-year doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) student at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
axel her loving companion has helped danielle through the transition from her undergraduate studies to veterinary school and through the covid-19 pandemic so when axel started having trouble urinating it was danielles turn to be there for him
we started with a primary care (service) visit to the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) danielle shared i thought he might have a common urinary tract infection (uti) because hes an old man who suddenly needed to use the bathroom more often with very little coming out each time
primary care took great care of him they ran some tests discussed the results with me and presented treatment options she said i chose to do some antibiotic treatment because it seemed to be a uti
after two weeks of antibiotic treatment however axels symptoms were worse than before which meant he did not have a uti
axel was then referred to the vmth internal medicine team which continued to search for the cause of his pain they conducted an ultrasound to check for blockages in the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder but didnt find one
the case was then referred to dr audrey cook a professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences who specializes in internal medicine and is assigned to the interventional radiology and endoscopy service she ordered another test
i was most worried because of his age about a tumor in his prostate or urethra cook explained we did a contrast study in which we put radiodense liquid into the urethra to see if there is a narrowing or blockage
to our amazement we found that his bladder was essentially falling backwards into his pelvis which then put a major kink in his urethra it was dramatic but explained everything that his owner had described cook said so the more he tried to pee the more he pushed his bladder backwards and the more he blocked off the flow
cook explained that axels diagnosis was tricky from the start in part because his condition is rare
i have only seen this condition once before that time in an older female yorkie so it wasnt really on my radar for axel cook shared because the bladder slipped back and then forward his signs werent consistent which was confusing and our ultrasound didnt give us any hint of what was going on hes one of those cases in which you just have to keep an open mind and find creative ways to define the problem we sort of have a step-by-step approach to dogs that cant urinate so the contrast study was the next logical thing to do for him
axels diagnosis revealed a need for surgery
the diagnosis was hard but the surgery was simple said dr kelley thieman the nancy & michael shaw ‘68 chair in small animal clinical sciences who led axels surgical team we just pulled his bladder forward and tacked it to his body wall so that it stayed forward instead of sliding backwards and kinking off his urethra like a garden hose
thieman sent axel home with postoperative care instructions and by that evening axel was already back to normal
i dont think i had cried that hard in a long time danielle shared it was such a relief to see him chipper and energetic again after a month of going through pain and not being able to sleep
dr cook dr thieman and the rest of the vmths primary care and internal medicine teams took really good care of him she said im glad they were all there to work together and figure out what was wrong with him even though it was a very uncommon thing
danielle began pursuing her dvm degree as a way of paying forward the exceptional care her pets have received from their veterinarians throughout her life she said axels health care journey and the help he received from her mentors in the vmth reinforced that desire
in veterinary medicine youre healing animals and working with their owners every day she explained when my pets have been sick ive had veterinarians who were able to address my concerns and make me feel like my family member is safe in their care i want to be able to do the same thing for people i do my work both for the animals and for their family members because their family members love them and theyre the ones taking care of them at the end of the day
as danielle begins wrapping up her vet school experience with only a few months until graduation she said she looks forward to soon being able to offer to her clients and patients the same quality and compassionate care axel received from some of her teachers and mentors and that she is grateful to them for helping axel return to his happy healthy self
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr meichen wang a postdoctoral trainee in texas a&m universitys interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology has been awarded a nearly $1 million career development grant from the national institute of environmental health sciences one of the national institutes of health (nih)
wangs grant an nih pathway to independence award (k99/r00) will provide support for her work developing new edible therapies for people who have ingested per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) also known as forever chemicals
pfas are found in many industry and consumer products and can be released from landfills industrial sites and wastewater treatment plants especially if these locations are impacted by natural or human-made disasters
these long-lasting chemicals can take many decades to break down which has led to their prevalence in the environment including our food and water supplies as a result pfas can be found in 99% of human blood samples in the united states
wangs research will focus on creating edible sorbents consisting of naturally occurring clays that are generally recognized as safe for human consumption that have the ability to reduce pfas bioavailability and toxicity in humans
im thrilled and humbled to receive this award wang said im grateful to everyone who helped me and put trust in me especially my mentor dr (timothy) phillips for his unconditional support my goal is to discover therapeutic sorbents that can be applied to protect vulnerable populations from exposures to hazardous environmental chemicals
she plans to test sorbent efficacy against six representative pfas using several different methods including adsorption/desorption isothermal analysis and computational simulations she will then conduct safety and efficacy studies to determine sorbents ability to reduce pfas bioavailability without interfering with nutrient absorption
by the end of the five-year grant period wang expects to have developed therapeutic sorbents that can be easily delivered orally to first responders and vulnerable populations who are exposed to high levels of pfas through diet and drinking water
her work will be conducted under the mentorship of phillips a university distinguished professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences co-mentors on her grant include dr natalie johnson from the school of public health and dr phanourios tamamis from the college of engineering
[meichen] is truly deserving of this wonderful award from niehs and will do marvelous work on her path to academic independence phillips said i have directly observed her diligence and hard work her passion for science her creativity and her high impact achievement in research
meichen always strives to be a positive role model for the future generation particularly young women in underserved communities he said i would rank her at the top of the very best that i have mentored over the last 43 years her past performances are clearly harbingers of a very bright future as an environmental toxicologist
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when oscar a 5-year-old dachshund developed partial paralysis from a herniated disc he became the first dog to experience a new non-surgical treatment option through a veterinary clinical trial at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath)
herniated discs are common in short-legged breeds like dachshunds and can cause rapid onset of paralysis
it was very sudden said oscars owner ashley williams at maybe 5 pm one evening he was breathing funny and then by 7 pm he was dragging his back feet
williams rushed oscar to her local veterinarian dr jessica nelson 19 who diagnosed the herniated disk and recommended surgery the typical treatment for the condition
but when williams expressed her concern about being able to afford the surgery nelson recalled a clinical trial being led by dr nick jeffery a professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) that could offer oscar a non-surgical treatment option at a much-reduced cost
once oscar arrived at the sath for his procedure he became the first participant in jefferys trial
dogs often herniate discs in their spine; it can lead to paralysis in the back legs and incontinence jeffery said the usual way we treat this is by doing surgery to take that disc out but thats really quite expensive and a lot of people dont have that sort of money lying around
rather than surgically removing the damaged disc the new method involves injecting an enzyme into the disc to dissolve it
enzymes are specific in what they can do and what materials they can digest he said ive done other studies with the same enzyme so i also know that its quite safe to use next to the spinal cord
jeffery is testing this method specifically to help owners who cant afford the expensive surgery usually used to treat herniated discs through his clinical trial hes collecting data on the speed of recovery and degree of recovery of function to determine if the enzyme could be an effective alternative
he plans to perform the enzyme injection on 30 small-breed dogs who develop herniated discs and can arrive at the sath no more than 48 hours after the onset of their inability to walk without support
this is a very common condition in small-breed dogs and there are probably many owners who cant afford to get the surgery done jeffery said once we get a reasonable number of cases well be able to definitively tell whether the injection is a good alternative
among the benefits of jefferys method are that the procedure is much faster and less intense than the traditional surgery oscar only needed injections into the spine through regular-sized needles and was back home the next day
one of the interesting things about the injection procedure was that it seems to have no adverse effects on him jeffery said oscar was really happy the whole time and he looked much more comfortable afterward than dogs that get surgery
while it only took a matter of hours for the enzyme to digest oscars herniated disc it took a bit longer for the spinal cord to recover enough for him to walk again but only 20 days after the procedure about the same amount of time it would have taken after surgery oscar passed the standard of being able to walk a 50-step distance (about 40 feet for him) without support
three months after his procedure oscar completely regained his ability to walk and was starting to run again
getting him to stop chasing a squirrel a few days ago was very comical because hes faster than i am even in his current state williams said
she credits the clinical trial with saving oscars life and hopes it can offer a similar outcome for other owners who would struggle to afford the traditional surgery
dog owners and veterinarians can learn more about the clinical trial here
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
preliminary data indicate that the compounds developed in the laboratory of dr stephen safe both kill tumors and rejuvenate the immune system which becomes exhausted as it responds to cancer
a team of texas a&m university researchers has received a $23-millon grant from the national institutes of health to further explore a unique immunotherapy that could be the first of its kind to treat colon cancer and could hold the key to treating other forms of cancer as well
the collaborative four-year project will determine how to best utilize a new class of drugs developed in the laboratory of dr stephen safe a distinguished professor in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology the project will also explore the effects of the new compounds on human and murine cancer cells
led by safe the team also includes vmbs researchers gus wright and james cai as well as college of agriculture and life sciences researcher robert chapkin and houston methodist hospital oncologist maen abdelrahim
safes compounds target two receptorsnr4a1 and nr4a2that are normally responsible for helping humans and animals lower stress levels but are overexpressed in colon cancer and other solid tumors
in the case of solid tumors these two receptors are bad; they regulate the growth of a cell how it metastasizes how it invades and how it survives safe said when we screened these receptors we found out that our compounds that weve been working on over the years bind with high affinity (binding strongly) binding can sometimes be bad making the tumor worse or binding can be good by being an antagonist in this case the compounds are antagoniststhey just wipe out the tumor
not only does their preliminary data indicate that their compounds act as an immunotherapy and kill the tumor but the compounds also rejuvenate the immune system which becomes exhausted as it responds to cancer
immune cells play a very important role in cancer treatment safe said but what happens with tumor development is that eventually the immune cells just get exhausted and become unable to mount a ‘tumor-killing response
dr jim allison and dr tasuku honjos nobel prize-winning work found that at least one of the reasons the immune cells dont work is that theyre not only exhausted but they dont function because tumors can suppress immune cells especially t-cells (which target specific foreign particles such as cancer cells) and thereby avoid immune cell-dependent tumor surveillance (the tumors are misidentified as immune cells by the immune system) safe said
immunotherapies work by separating the t-cells from the tumor allowing the immune system to destroy the tumor the way it would any other infection in your body
one of the signals (the communication mechanism between t-cells and tumors) or checkpoints is a gene called pd-l1 which is a checkpoint inhibitor; checkpoints bring the immune cell and the tumor cell together safe said we found that in breast and colon cancer nr4a1 regulates pd-l1 in the tumor and treatment with our antagonist decreases pd-l1 expression and sensitizes the tumor to immune surveillance killing it
by isolating the immune cells wright an associate research scientist in the vmbs department of veterinary pathobiology was able to analyze the t-cells for markers of exhaustion and determined that with safes compounds those markers were wiped out
previous studies showed that nr4a1 played a role in t-cell exhaustion and our unique nr4a1 antagonists not only target nr4a1 in the tumor but also in t-cells; this dual targeting (the killing of the tumor and rejuvenating the immune system) is consistent with their high anticancer activity in mouse models
in the next phase of their research the team will use the nih grant to explore other areas of how the compounds work to hopefully prepare it for clinical trials
while safe works to maximize the compoundsthat is to select the most effective molecules for achieving their end goaland to assess compound dosages abdelrahim who is co-principal investigator on the project will be examining the effects of the compound on human tissue; wright will be working to further explore implications on the immune system; cai an associate professor in the vmbs department of integrative biosciences will be investigating how other individual cell types are affected by the compounds; and chapkin the allen endowed chair in nutrition & chronic disease prevention and a university distinguished professor will be further analyzing effects of nr4a1-targeting compounds on colonic epithelial stem cells in tumors
chapkin wright and cai will also perform a single cell multi-omic analysis of the colon tumor microenvironment to probe the mechanistic underpinnings of nr4a1-dependent modulation of t-cell exhaustion
ultimately safe believes their nr4a1-targeting drugs will also attenuate other types of cancer including breast cancer glioblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children
a lot of drugs that oncologists use now just target the specific genes/pathways in tumor cellthe drug kills it and the tumor usually regresses he said those drugs are effective and inhibit some tumor growth but theyre only targeting the tumor; theyre not targeting immune cells im not sure how many drugs currently being used target both the tumor and the immune cells but ours do and this accounts for their potency in preclinical animal models
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
in addition to employing the top two experts on the topic texas a&m university is listed as the worlds fifth most knowledgeable institution on dogs
the top two experts on dogs in the world are faculty members at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) according to the life sciences search engine system expertscape
the top-ranked expert for the topic dogs is dr jan suchodolski a vmbs professor the associate director for research in the vmbs gastrointestinal laboratory and the purina petcare endowed chair for microbiome research close behind him at no 2 is dr jörg steiner a regents professor university distinguished professor the director of the gi lab and the dr mark morris chair in small animal gastroenterology & nutrition
expertscape is an artificial intelligence system that objectively ranks experts in the life sciences based on all medical journal articles published in the past 10 years
each publication is assigned a score based on how recently it was published the journal it appeared in and the articles type (for example research and clinical studies will rank high than editorial pieces) the system also factors in if an expert was first author second author etc
these scores are then used to determine the top countries regions cities institutions and individual experts for more than 29 000 topics
jan and joerg are both so humble generous and collaborative it is easy to forget their international renown and the huge impact of their studies said dr michael criscitiello vmbs associate dean for research & graduate studies we are very fortunate to have the gi lab and that that they have led to global prominence elevating our research and training environment here at a&m
suchodolski and steiner share several aspects of their careers in addition to their expertise on dogs; both earned their doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine overseassuchodolski in austria and steiner in germanyand both are members of several prestigious national and international associations for veterinary gastroenterologists and internal medicine specialists
much of suchodolskis research involves working to understand the microbiome and metabolome (the complete set of small-molecule chemicals produced during metabolism) of cats and dogs including how they interact with antibiotics
his work has been funded by the american kennel club canine health foundation the united states department of agriculture the us department of defense and more
according to expertscape suchodolski has contributed to 164 articles about dogs
steiners research often involves the pancreas hepatobiliary system and the gastrointestinal system one of his most notable accomplishments is the development of a diagnostic test for pancreatitis the first of its kind
steiner has contributed to 153 articles about dogs according to expertscape
together and with the other seven faculty members and gi lab staff members they also help an international clientele of veterinarians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases in dogs and cats
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
research from dr michael goldings laboratory at texas a&m university highlights the need to expand prepregnancy messaging to emphasize the reproductive dangers of alcohol use by both parents
research from dr michael goldings laboratory at texas a&m university indicates that male alcohol use has a significant negative influence on in vitro fertilization (ivf) success rates thus increasing patient financial burden and emotional stress
the recently published work is part of goldings research program focused on understanding how male drinking prior to conception contributes to the development of alcohol-induced birth defects and disease this particular study highlights the importance of expanding fertility and prepregnancy messaging to emphasize the reproductive danger of alcohol use by both parents not just the mother
couples struggling with fertility are increasingly using assisted reproductive technologies (art) like ivf to have children
the centers for disease control and prevention estimates that about 2% of all babies born in the united states are conceived using art which would mean 1 in 50 babies were conceived using art in 2021 according to the cdcs provisional births data
these statistics highlight the growing importance of looking at both parents contributions to fertility and pregnancy outcomes according to golding an associate professor in the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology
we say to the woman ‘you need to be careful of what you eat you need to stop smoking you need to be doing all these different things to improve fertility golding said we dont say anything to the man and thats a mistake because what were seeing here is that the couples odds of success with their ivf procedure are increasing simply by addressing both parents health habits
goldings research used a mouse model to determine the effects of a potential fathers drinking on ivf pregnancy outcomes the model included a control group that represented males who do not drink a group that represented males who participate in chronic drinking at the legal limit and a group that represented males who participate in chronic drinking at one and a half times the legal limit
the results of the research revealed that the more a male drinks before providing sperm for an ivf pregnancy the less likely the pregnancy is to be successful
seeing the negative effects in both the legal limit group and the group drinking at one and a half times the legal limit revealed that as alcohol dose increases things get worse golding explained that really surprised me i didnt think that it would be that cut and dry that really emphasized that even very modest levels of exposure were breaking through and having an impact on conception implantation and overall ivf pregnancy success rates
alexis roach a phd candidate helping conduct research in goldings lab served as first author of the recently published ivf research paper she said their findings and other research conducted in goldings laboratory challenge the primarily maternal-focused narrative of previous ivf research she also said its important to make the findings of this research accessible to the public
the most important aspect of this research is that it makes it clear that everybody plays a role in achieving successful pregnancy outcomes even though the general assumption is that its just women roach said the most important thing to take away from this is that if youre a male considering having a family abstain from alcohol until your wife gets pregnant
the research concludes that male alcohol use hinders an embryos ability to successfully implant in the uterus and reduces ivf embryo survival rates the research also revealed more questions about fetal development and paternal drinking goldings lab is continuing to research these questions and the paternal aspects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders a group of conditions that can occur when a person is exposed to alcohol before birth his work aims to provide a holistic look at understanding fetal development and pregnancy by examining the fathers role in it
for now he says the next step in improving ivf pregnancy outcomes is getting the discoveries from this research into the hands eyes and ears of the people considering art to help start their own families
it is important to remember that couples struggling with fertility who have chosen to pursue ivf are under intense emotional and financial pressure which is associated with a feeling of helplessness golding pointed out our study demonstrates that drinking alcohol is an unrecognized factor that negatively impacts ivf pregnancy success rates therefore as alcohol use is easily changed our study identifies a shared action item that can empower the couple to work together toward their goal of becoming pregnant
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
like any other young dog delilah a black labrador retriever-great pyrenees mix loves to run and play she wouldnt be able to however if not for the knee replacement surgery she received at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) small animal teaching hospital (sath)
although knee replacements have existed in veterinary medicine for more than a decade theyre fairly rare procedures because of the strict eligibility requirements in fact when delilah had her surgery in march 2022 she became the saths first knee replacement patient
just ten months later delilahs artificial knee works just as its supposed to allowing her to run and play to her hearts content much to the delight of her surgical team and her owner
like all dog lovers delilahs owner eric golestan was heartbroken when his time with his beloved first dog huckleberry came to an end
id had huckleberry for 12 years he was born into my hand and i was really emotionally connected to him the dallas native said when he passed away at the end of 2020 my mom thought i was depressed and found somebody who had a pregnant dog; one of the puppies ended up looking just like huckleberry
when golestan went to meet the huckleberry lookalike he fell in love with another puppy as well and ended up adopting both soon to be known as sampson and delilah
only a few months later golestan noticed the first signs that delilah was experiencing some pain
she was just running through the backyard and all of a sudden she let out a yelp and was holding up her left hind leg he said she immediately recovered and was running around like nothing was wrong so i just thought she had bumped into something i never really thought it was serious but it flared up again later we took her to a local vet who took some x-rays and found out it was osteochondrosis
specifically delilah has osteochondrosis (oc) a developmental skeletal disorder in which improper cartilage development causes sections of cartilage to loosen and break off within joints like the knee elbow ankle and shoulder although delilah had signs of oc in both of her knees only the left was damaged enough to cause her pain
at a very young age she was missing a major component of the weight-bearing surface of the knee a critically important joint for canine mobility said dr brian saunders a vmbs associate professor and veterinary orthopedic surgeon our normal treatment methods to address oc (such as arthroscopic surgery followed by rest rehabilitation and medications) were not going to be able to address delilahs defect because it was so large
because delilahs left knee was already so damaged her activity had to be severely restricted; she was not allowed outside off-leash and wasnt able to run and play with her brothera serious hindrance for a puppy
feeling that delilahs quality of life was at stake golestan and saunders began to discuss the alternative treatment option a knee replacement surgery
for many dogs knee replacement surgery is too risky to attempt
a lot of dogs with severe end-stage arthritis of the knee have undergone many surgeries; in many of these cases there is a documented or suspected infection at some point along the way saunders said when there has been an infection in a joint even if the infection is clinically resolved theres a high likelihood that a knee replacement will get infected even if advanced measures are taken in surgery to prevent infection of the implants
the most common joint replacement in small animal orthopedics is the hip joint because hip dysplasia is so common and because there is a successful exit strategy or alternative plan if a major problem were to develop with the implants like an infection
if you do a knee replacement and something goes wrong the stakes are much higher saunders said the exit strategy is not nearly as appealing as it is for the hip; you have to either amputate the leg fuse the knee in a standing position or design and manufacture custom implants that work much differently than typical knee replacement systems
since avoiding post-surgery issues is important the majority of patients with knee problems are not eligible for a replacement because of their history of previous infections but because delilah was so youngonly a year old by the time she arrived at the sathshe had never had knee surgery or any other major medical issues making her a candidate for knee replacement surgery
after doing several x-rays a ct scan and health screenings saunders confirmed that delilah was a good candidate for the procedure
on the preoperative side the last thing we did was have a series of conversations with mr golestan he said this is a lifelong investment in a pet and a lot of long-term monitoring and follow-up care is necessary to make sure everythings going well
despite knowing the challenges of the procedure golestan decided it would be worth it
because the oc was present in both legs i was really worried that if her left knee was bad she was going to compensate with the right which would then cause the right to blow out eventually golestan said i did not want to see her limping for the rest of her life
prior to performing delilahs knee replacement saunders consulted with fellow orthopedic surgeon dr jon dyce at ohio state university and used delilahs ct scan to make 3d-printed bone models of her femur (thigh-bone) and tibia (shin-bone) he also performed a number of practice surgeries to ensure the surgical team had the best chance of achieving success
during delilahs surgery saunders used intra-operative tools called cutting guides to remove the cartilage from the femur and tibia next metal implants were placed on the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia with a polyethylene (surgical plastic) liner inserted between them these implants are somewhat shaped like a normal knee and allow the joint to function properly
the surface of these implants is intentionally made to resemble bone saunders said the surface tricks the bodys bone into growing into the implant once the bone grows into it its locked into place
after delilahs three-hour procedure ended the real work began for golestan
the post-operative aftercare instructions are pretty intense for the clients saunders said a thumbnail sketch of the instructions is leash walks only for three months no off-leash activity indoors or outdoors two to four medications for several weeks after surgery a fair amount of rehabilitation exercise and a number of re-check visits for examinations and x-rays
golestan rose to the challenge and credits his moms willingness to help care for delilah with getting them through the recovery period
it may have been tough but it was worth it; at delilahs six-month post-surgery appointment her implant was found to be fully secure and she was given the all clear to return to full activity levels
she runs at 110% and now she can do anything she wants golestan said delilah is the most intense dog ive ever known and if she can go through the recovery process and be successful any dog can do it
the saths orthopedics service is now performing knee ankle and elbow replacements in addition to total hip replacements
in addition to helping the canine patient one of the benefits of these newer joint replacement procedures is the increased learning opportunities for sath students interns and residents
it gives the students exposure to an advanced orthopedic procedure they normally wouldnt see saunders said also there are more training opportunities for the surgery residents who are on their way to becoming board-certified surgeons we perform a number of advanced orthopedic procedures here but to be able to add some of these other joint replacements to their training experience is a big step forward in addition to being a big step forward for the small animal patients who benefit from the expertise provided by the vmbs orthopedic surgery team
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas veterinary medical foundation (tvmf) provided an instrumental gift to the texas a&m university veterinary emergency team (vet) tvmfs $50 000 contribution will support team operations and future deployments
tvmf the philanthropic partner of the texas veterinary medical association since 1978 prioritizes disaster preparedness and response the foundation leverages veterinary partnerships and financial resources in support of the veterinary profession by providing financial assistance in times of crisis connecting veterinarians with opportunities to serve their communities advocating responsible animal ownership and promoting and improving the well-being of animals
as the largest and most sophisticated team of its kind in the country the vet provides medical support to urban search and rescue teams and resident animals in response to natural and human-made disasters at the request of the texas division of emergency management texas a&m task force or county jurisdictions while training future aggie veterinarians in emergency preparedness and response
the expansion of the partnership is a natural fit with important significance according to dr wesley bissett vet director
whenever someone invests in our program it signals that they believe in our mission of being there for a person an animal and a community in their greatest time of need bissett said an investment in our team also signals that the donor shares our commitment to selfless service
this gift is particularly meaningful because it is from veterinarians who share and value our mission it says that the veterinary medical community values what we do he said
dr jayton bailey ‘09 ‘11 (ms) ‘15 (dvm) a tvmf board trustee became acquainted with the vet as a doctor of veterinary medicine student at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences bailey said his clinical rotation with the vet as a student prepared him to serve animals and human beings affected by disasters
in march 2022 baileys experience with the vet became vital to his community when wildfires struck his hometown of eastland
when the fires happened dr bissett and dr zoran (a vet leader who has served as a texas a&m task force member and veterinarian since 1997) called our clinic and told us they were coming pretty early on bailey recalled they let me ride around with them one day and it was amazing to see them in action thats where it hit home that this is an invaluable organization seeing them in action in my own backyard really emphasized the impact of what they do
troy alexander tvma executive director and tvmf president said the organizations will support the vet as both donors and as advocates
tvmf and tvma prioritize the issue of preparedness we hope to carry that message of the importance of the vet and what a difference it makes in our state and nation alexander said
the vet relies on the generosity of donors to support its work and mission
investments like this from the tvmf support the largest most sophisticated veterinary emergency response team in the country bissett shared it takes a lot of equipment to respond to disasters the way we do and this investment will help us make sure that were equipped appropriately to go out into the field whether its within or outside of the state at this point we dont have a line-item state budget which makes donations like this critical to carrying out our mission tvmf and tvmas support and advocating to change that is important
dr chad harris tvmf board of trustees president said the vet brings pride to the state of texas
i work with several other states from coast to coast through my job he explained im confident saying this is an outstanding opportunity to support veterinary medicine in response to disasters nationwide im thankful for the vet and im proud to be a part of a foundation that supports them
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
drs weihsueh chiu and ivan rusyn professors at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) have received one of 11 new research grants from the us environmental protection agency (epa) as part of an initiative to find novel ways to assess the toxicity of chemical mixtures
while toxicology studies have traditionally focused on the effects of single chemicals chemicals in the air water soil food and commercial products are often present as mixtures that can be released into the environment through activities like burning coal or through disaster events in areas with extreme pollution
many of these mixtures are well-characterized but others can contain up to thousands of unknown components understanding how the overall mixtures affect human animal and environmental health is important for those who come into contact with them
mixtures are the most difficult challenge in toxicology because they can have an infinite number of components said rusyn a university professor of toxicology you can try to figure each one out but still not solve the overall problem because every sample will be a different mixture
rusyn and chiu aim to develop a new approach for analyzing chemical mixtures that will look at both mixtures as a whole and the major individual components rather than using the traditional method of determining every component present
their three-year project will use the $750 000 epa grant to develop a new hybrid approachcombining toxicological analytical and modeling methodsfor analyzing chemical mixtures found in the environment and determining their potential hazard by delivering rapid results this new method will support decision making by first responders and community leaders working to clean up chemical mixtures
the team will conduct their research using samples of chemical mixtures previously collected by the texas a&m superfund research centers environmental sampling activities following natural disasters such as hurricane harvey and hurricane florence
the epa needs solutions for real-life mixtures where theyre not just polycyclic hydrocarbons or pesticides but really a mixture of many more diverse chemicals rusyn said a good example of this challenge is superfund sites (abandoned hazardous waste sites) that have multiple chemicals if the site gets flooded its not just one type of chemical thats going to get out its going to be a mixture of many types of compounds
to propose a project that is ambitious but not completely unrealistic we looked at what samples we already had and found a new creative way of using that information he said we were anticipating this type of announcement (for funding opportunities) and we were building up the infrastructure and data sets for 10 years or more; now this is a perfect chance for us to apply our data and be very efficient
the team also will be testing complex substances known as unknown or variable composition complex reaction products or biological materials or uvcbs
uvcbs are categorized based on their active ingredients and can include products such as gasoline motor oil or cooking oil; they are regulated like a drug or pesticide
uvcbs are still manufactured according to certain specifications but its acknowledged that we may not always know whats in there and that every time we make it it will be variable in composition rusyn said the solutions (the new testing methods) that were trying to create will work for both real-life mixtures and uvcbs
the research project will involve four major aims the first of which is using diverse data types to group around 1 000 different individual chemicals based on what organs they may affect
currently almost all of the existing groupings of chemicals are based on chemical structure; we want to figure out which ones are going to affect a common target through laboratory testing using cells representing different organs in order to be more biologically relevant chiu said
our reasoning is that if we use cells from different human organsthe major ones that are usually the major targets for toxicitywe can test the hypothesis that certain compounds will be specific to certain tissues he continued
for the second and third aims they will be testing the whole mixture as well as getting information on the individual components and then using novel statistical methods to try to determine which are the most likely components causing effects either individually or in combination
finally the fourth aim will involve demonstrating how these new methods can provide rapid results that can be utilized in real-life situations
our final step is a translation from research to practice determining how we can use these new experimental approaches and data to actually make decisions on cleaning up a site remediation or on a regulatory level chiu said
rusyn and chiu are collaborating on this project with two colleagues from north carolina state university drs yihui zhou and fred wright
im very grateful to the national institute of environmental health sciences the epa and texas a&m for giving us this opportunity by supporting previous work that formed a foundation for this exciting project rusyn said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

lyme disease the fastest growing vector-borne illness in the us according to the bay area lyme foundation is challenging to diagnose and can only be treated in the early stages of infection once the infection spreads to the nervous and muscular systems it is both harder to detect and less susceptible to antibiotics
research by two texas a&m university scientists however is focused on improving lyme disease treatment outcomes by developing a test thats both more accurate and more efficient than the current test for the infection
dr artem rogovskyy an associate professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) and dr dmitry kurouski an assistant professor in the texas a&m department of biochemistry & biophysics and the department of biomedical engineering are testing raman spectroscopy a technique used to detect vibrations at the molecular level as a diagnostic tool for lyme disease
the results of rogovskyy and kurouskis second paper on raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for lyme disease published in october demonstrate that blood samples from mice and humans infected with the lyme pathogen were more accurately identified with the raman spectroscopy test than with the two-tiered serology the only diagnostic method currently approved to diagnose lyme disease in humans in the united states
were trying to develop a better test that would be simple inexpensive and accurate rogovskyy explained by accurate i mean highly sensitive and highly specific at the same time
the increased accuracy of raman spectroscopy testing could improve lyme disease diagnostic practices for both humans and animals believed to have been in contact with the disease
for animals the new test would require a smaller sample that could easily be taken in the field away from a veterinary clinic or hospital thus improving mobile veterinary practices
for humans raman spectroscopy testing could significantly decrease the amount of time needed to complete testing increase the accuracy of the diagnosis lower the cost of diagnosing the disease and improve overall health outcomes by definitively diagnosing the disease earlier
rogovskyy said the team is in the process of validating the test through additional studies and if the test is validated it could become a very important tool for diagnosing lyme disease worldwide especially in more remote areas outside of the us where the disease is prevalent by enabling testing outside of traditional medical and hospital settings
the researchers collaborative efforts have received funding from the bay area lyme foundation a nonprofit that collaborates with world-class scientists and institutions to accelerate medical breakthroughs for lyme disease they also received human blood samples from the lyme disease biobank a clinical specimen repository
rogovskyy and kurouskis first paper published on raman spectroscopy is the first proof-of-concept study to have explored raman spectroscopy to diagnose mice infected with the lyme pathogen their second paper included data on testing raman spectroscopy on samples from mice infected with european lyme pathogens and also involved numerous human blood samples supplied by the lyme disease biobank
rogovskyy anticipates the team may be able to publish more findings in about two years from the next phase of their research that entails testing human samples in a blind manner
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m university school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) has again received full accreditation for the next seven years by the american veterinary medical association (avma) council on education (coe) dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine announced the accreditation to the school on dec 20
the avma coe is recognized by the united states department of education and the council for higher education accreditation and is responsible for accrediting programs that offer a professional doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree in the united states canada and other nations it is recognized internationally as the benchmark for quality in veterinary medical education
the avma coes decision to grant the vmbs accreditation reflects the high educational standard of the school the vmbs is one of the largest schools and colleges of veterinary medicine nationally with 684 dvm students and a current class size of 180 dvm students as of may 2022 the vmbs has graduated 8 758 veterinarians
this is a resounding endorsement of the quality of the faculty staff and students upon which all quality dvm educational programs depend as well as the leadership and support of texas a&m university the texas a&m university system and the texas a&m system board of regents august said
august noted that during the avma coe accreditation site visit exit interview in september the accreditation team commented on the vmbs positive learning and working environment and complimented the faculty staff and students the team also noted the robust research program and success in engaging students in research
further the accreditation team commended the vmbs on excellent educational opportunities at the houston spca; the veterinary emergency team; the 2+2 program at the vmbs veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program in canyon texas; the noticeable dedication to diversity and an inclusive environment; professional development opportunities; outcomes assessment initiatives; and the center for education technologies with its support in the curricular review process
the avma coe reviews each program every seven years to determine if renewing accreditation is appropriate and if the program meets the expected standards the coe measures veterinary programs according to 11 standards including curriculum facilities clinical resources and research
these standards are reviewed regularly by a number of parties including the avma house of delegates veterinary practitioners faculty deans of schools and colleges of veterinary medicine veterinary students and the public
the coe accreditation process is rigorous and ensures that veterinary medical students receive a high-quality education by meeting the objectives set by the avma coe dvm graduates should be well prepared to enter the veterinary profession
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the last thing anyone wants to deal with during the holidays is a medical emergency but when max a 7-year-old schnauzer began to have difficulty urinating on thanksgiving day his family began an almost week-long journey to get him the care he needed
they soon learned that max had a serious blockage in his urinary tract caused by a large number of stones that had formed in his bladder surgical treatment was the only option but it wouldnt be cheap
however a new community outreach program at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) was available to help the family afford maxs lifesaving procedure
like most dog owners dulce and guillermo duron would argue that max is not just their pet but also a member of the family
max has been in our family for seven years and hes always been there for emotional support dulce said i was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years back after a car accident at that point i had elementary-aged kids and two teenagers and it was a lot to handle i tell everybody all of the time that max saved me
he would be at the end of the bed on top of my feet as i dealt with a neurological problem and nausea he went through that with me for months she said
maxs special role in the family made it all the more alarming when the durons began to suspect that max was unwell; on thanksgiving day he started urinating indoors in seemingly every corner he could find
i later realized that that was the last time that i had seen him urinateafter that it was just droplets dulce said it was painful to see he would try to urinate and then walk away a little and try again he would do 10 tries in different spots
by saturday evening max began clearly showing signs of discomfort so the durons rushed him to a veterinary hospital in houston the hospital staff diagnosed max with a urinary blockage but were unable to do any more before they closed for the night
already facing one veterinary bill the couple decided to take max to economy pet clinic on monday in the hopes that the prices would be lower
dr (rao) perla was more than willing to see him and do the tests much more affordably dulce said he told us ‘this is going to be a journey ill be here for anything that you need i was just blown away by how available he was
perla set up a doctor-to-doctor consultation with the sath and after discussing maxs case with a veterinarian at texas a&m recommended that the durons bring max to college station for further treatment late tuesday night they made the two-hour drive from south houston
the finances were still a concern so we were very transparent with the doctor dulce said she offered to empty out his bladder that night so he wouldnt have to stay overnight he was so relieved like a whole new pup
although max was feeling better emptying the bladder was only a temporary solution so the durons returned wednesday morning to discuss next steps with dr audrey cook an internal medicine specialist and professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
when cook reviewed the x-rays that were taken of max in houston she was shocked by what she saw
he had about 80 tiny stones that had gone out of his bladder and were just packed in his urethra she said usually dogs with this problem will have a bunch of stones in their bladder and just a couple that get stuck but his urethra was just completely packed ive never seen an x-ray like his
without intervention a blockage of this magnitude could soon cause maxs kidneys to shut down or his bladder to rupture knowing how vital the surgery was the durons started to explore options for handling the cost
they soon discovered the texas a&m roach family student community outreach surgical program a program supporting texas pet owners with limited financial means who otherwise would not be able to provide their animals with surgical care the program offers a variety of common procedures which are performed by fourth-year veterinary students under the supervision of sath veterinarians
were trying to get two kids through college and money is just really tight dulce said i applied for the program and it said they would get back with us within one to three days but they got back to us within one to three minutes by the time i went to the car to try to make some more phone calls the doctor and business office had already communicated they relieved my stress in only 15 minutes
once the financial aspects were settled cook and allison teunis a fourth-year veterinary student at ross university who is completing her clinical rotations at texas a&m began preparing for maxs surgery
they performed a cystotomya common surgery used to enter the bladder most often to remove bladder stonesbut soon ran into a roadblock
our plan had been to use a catheter to flush the stones back into his bladder but they were so jammed that we couldnt get enough fluid flowing to move the stones cook said
because the problem was caused by a few large stones tightly wedged in the urethra cook decided during surgery to perform a laser lithotripsy a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to break apart stones
once we smashed the first three stones with the laser we got enough fluid velocity to push all the other stones back in his bladder and then allison scooped them all out she said
teunis who has a strong interest in veterinary surgery was grateful for the chance to perform her first cystotomy under the guidance of a board-certified specialist
max is such a sweet boy and to be involved in this lifesaving procedure for him was an amazing experience she said i am absolutely grateful for the roach fund and texas a&m for this opportunity
while max is likely to form more bladder stones in the future they can largely be prevented with a special diet and if necessary medications plus his owners are now more familiar with the signs of a blockage and know what to watch out for
max is my first dog dulce said ive never had a conversation with other pet owners about these types of stones i dont understand why i didnt know about it but now that im aware my teenagers are also going to be aware and when they become dog owners themselves they can be a whole different generation of owners who arent blind to the problem
once max woke up after surgery it was clear to both his veterinary team and the durons that he was feeling much better
as they prepared to head home maxs family was looking forward to life returning to normal both in big and small ways
my daughter just got a miniature schnauzer a ‘texas tornado max is trying to keep up with him and will enjoy playing with his friend again dulce said plus i cant wait to see him go potty!
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr noah cohen a texas a&m university distinguished professor of equine internal medicine has been selected to hold the glenn blodgett equine chair at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
cohen has spent more than three decades conducting research teaching students and treating patients as a faculty member in the vmbs department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) he also serves as the associate department head for research and graduate studies and previously served as the patsy link chair in equine research
cohen and his equine infectious disease laboratory are well known for developing vaccines and treatments for rhodococcus equi pneumonia one of the leading causes of death and disease in foals
some of his other projects include working to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance in horses developing diagnostic tests and a vaccine for strangles and studying several other relevant diseases with the overall goal of improving equine health
cohen was recommended for the glenn blodgett equine chair by a committee of four faculty members from within and beyond the vmbs
dr cohens research area of interest history of successful research funding and subsequent publication and outstanding reputation for mentorship of graduate students make him an obvious choice said a committee member dr cohen is a superb scholar and excellent scientist who has transformed the field of equine veterinary medicine with his seminal discoveries
dr cohen has been rigorous in his investigation of infectious diseases of horses and has been adaptable to keep veterinary medicine at the cutting edge of medical discovery the committee member continued his ability to apply discovery in animal models to advancement of medical research has been instilled in his trainees and will have a lasting and indelible mark on our profession
cohen earned his veterinariae medicinae doctoris (vmd) degree (equivalent to a doctor of veterinary medicine) from the university of pennsylvania in 1983 followed by a master of public health and phd in epidemiology from johns hopkins university in 1986 and 1988 respectively
he joined the vmbs faculty in 1988 completed a large animal internal medicine residency at texas a&m in 1991 and became a board-certified member of the american college of veterinary internal medicine (large animal internal medicine) in 1992
his courses for undergraduate graduate and veterinary students cover topics such as equine infectious diseases host-pathogen interaction and large animal clinical skills in addition he has served as a mentor for numerous undergraduate and graduate students veterinary residents and postdoctoral researchers
in addition to being one of only 60 faculty members at texas a&m recognized as a university distinguished professor the highest level of achievement for faculty cohen has received more than two dozen honors and awards for his excellence in research teaching and patient care
the glenn blodgett equine chair was established in 2011 in honor of the late dr glenn blodgett ‘74 a leader in equine veterinary medicine and a vmbs distinguished alumnus it was created to support the equine initiative a collaboration between the vmbs and the texas a&m college of agriculture and life sciences department of animal science
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
irene gamboa has loved dogs for as long as she can remember so much so that her social media friends are almost exclusively dogs and puppies
yet she didnt have a dog of her own until fate intervened
what started as a target run to visit her son who works at the big-box store in pearland ended with the adoption of a puppy small enough to fit in the palm of gamboas handshe rescued the pup after witnessing its abandonment in the parking lot
sitting in my car i saw a lady who had a little puppy gamboa explained she put the puppy under a tree in a planter in the parking lot i thought she was just letting the dog go to the bathroom but then i saw her walking away i got out of my car and went to grab the puppy because if the little puppy wouldve jumped out of the planter a car wouldve hit it
gamboa confronted the lady who confirmed her intention was to leave it there for someone else to take home after gamboa expressed disbelief and asked why the lady simply said that puppy is defective and walked away
with a petsmart nearby gamboa walked into the store and made an appointment for her new puppy whom gamboa named apollonia after a character in her favorite movie the godfather
apollonias healthcare journey began with the appointment gamboa made the day she saved the energetic miniature poodle chihuahua and lhasa apso mix from the target parking lot
at that appointment the veterinarian told gamboa that apollonia had a heart murmur
i asked ‘ok what is that can we give her medicine what can we do to help her feel better and dr perez said ‘no you have to take her to a cardiologist it sounds like she has a grade four heart murmur gamboa recalled thinking back to apollonias first veterinary visit
the veterinarian advised gamboa to keep apollonia calm and still as much as possible a tough ask for a playful energetic puppy the veterinarian also recommended several cardiologists in the houston area
gamboa left the appointment and relayed the experience to her daughter sharing her worries about her puppys life; despite her concerns about paying for apollonias future healthcare she followed perezs advice and made an appointment with one of the three cardiologists she located
the cardiologist confirmed apollonias heart murmur diagnosed her with a congenital heart defect called a patent ductus arteriosus (pda) and determined her need for heart surgery the doctor also expressed concerns about performing the surgery
while she needed surgery right away if she has the surgery she might not make it through gamboa recalled the cardiologist saying just like any surgery theres always a chance that anything any complication can happenit might be too late; her heart might give up
the cardiologist also advised gamboa to start saving for what she anticipated would be a $7 000 surgeryif gamboa could find a surgeon willing to perform it
the next part of apollonias health journey began with another checkup at petsmart with perez who encouraged gamboa to take apollonia to the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath)
gamboa made an appointment with the sath but canceled out of concern for the cost of the visit however after perez encouraged her to call back and inquire about payment plans gamboa followed the advice and took the earliest appointment available
she documented their journey from pearland to bryan-college station for apollonias initial appointment on tiktok asking for well wishes and prayers for good news
at texas a&m dr sonya wesselowski an assistant professor of cardiology determined that apollonia was a good candidate for the surgery
without pda closure dogs often go on to develop congestive heart failure within the first year or so of life wesselowski explained
pda closure surgery is both lifesaving and expensive
however thanks to generous donations to the sarge and the capper and chris save the animals fund in the sath the surgical team was able to offer crucial financial assistance for apollonias surgery
we performed a minimally invasive interventional procedure to place a special device called an acdo (a self-expanding device made from a nitinol wire mesh) inside of apollonias pda to close it wesselowski explained the whole cardiac procedure was performed using a blood vessel in apollonias hind leg which required only a small incision in her groin
her procedure was a success and apollonia now has a very good long-term prognosis! she continued
throughout apollonias surgery and post-operative stay at the sath her cardiology team called gamboa with updates
im so grateful to dr elizabeth malcolm a cardiology resident she gave me so much hope i felt in my heart apollonia is in the right hospital with the right doctors who truly love animals gamboa shared they will do their best to save everyones fur baby niki turner a fourth-year veterinary student was amazing she kept me updated while my fur baby was there apollonia and i are truly blessed and thankful to the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital
about a month has passed since apollonias surgery and gamboa said apollonia is doing exceptionally well she can now safely enjoy energetic puppy life play with gamboa and explore the world to her curious hearts content
gamboa said she believes apollonias health journey is proof that miracles happen
there is hope there are doctors out there who believe they can save these puppies and these senior dogs she said some people are doctors to be doctors and then there are people who are doctors who love animals and will do whatever it takes to save them
doctors who are also animal lovers save lives like my apollonias she said im so thankful we had doctors at texas a&m who gave apollonia love and saved her life and that we were able to receive financial help from the sarge and the capper and chris save the animals fund im so grateful to texas a&m
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr sam miller ‘91 begins his workday living an aggie dream as he passes through the front door of his office reveille ix greets him with an air of excitement fit for a retired queen of aggieland
in september miller assumed the role of director of the stevenson companion animal life-care center a facility on the texas a&m university campus in which a team of staff and students provides for the physical emotional and medical needs of companion animals whose owners are no longer able to provide that care
both miller and the stevenson center are one-of-a-kind gems in the field of veterinary medicine
miller first came to aggieland as a student his grandfather attended texas a&m but only had enough money for one semester he was on texas a&ms football roster for that one semester with e king gill the man who inspired the 12th man tradition his father attended the university of texas in austin
i grew up bleeding orange and white a die-hard tu fan and thought that was the only school for me miller shared during my time in ffa in high school and while working at a veterinary clinic i realized i wanted to become a veterinarian at that point there was really no doubt that if you want to be a veterinarian you go to the best school and that is texas a&m it was probably one of the best decisions id ever made
after graduating from texas a&m miller worked at nolana animal hospital in mcallen in the rio grande valley for three years
i worked under two great veterinarians one of whom was a surgeon and they definitely shaped my skills as a veterinarian he said
when miller and his wife decided to move closer to home to raise their family he joined a solo practitioner at the village veterinary clinic in houston and was offered an opportunity to buy into the practice within a year he became sole owner of the clinic in 1998
my goal was to create a practice environment in which we focused on developing long-term relationships with our clients while offering the best medicine possible for their pets miller shared often in the hectic pace of day-to-day practice we dont realize the impact we have on our clients but that impact became readily apparent when i announced my retirement earlier this year i received numerous calls and letters from long-time clients who expressed their deep appreciation for what i had done for them over the years
now at the stevenson center miller brings his exceptional experience practicing veterinary medicine and running a successful clinic as well as his leadership experience in organized veterinary medicine demonstrated through his veterinary response work in the aftermath of hurricane ike in the texas veterinary medical association and in legislative advocacy
what has surprised me the most is the impact that we as veterinarians have on our clients miller shared that carries over well into my work here at the stevenson center weve had individuals who are going through the will-making process or estate planning for the first time their top priority is ‘what am i going to do with my pets its a very easy transition for me because i realize how important that bond is and how important this facility is to helping give them that comfort
the opportunity to form new bonds with pets and their owners at the stevenson center is ultimately what brought miller back to bryan-college station
i have long been aware of the great works of the stevenson center miller explained when i heard of dr presnalss retirement i realized this was the perfect opportunity to slow down from the hectic pace of practice yet continue in the profession working with folks who have a strong connection with their petsnot to mention that i loved the thought of getting back to texas a&m
miller said the university and the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) have changed since he was a student technological advancements and the updated dvm curriculum are among the changes hes noticed since returning to aggieland
the recent curriculum change focused more on clinical skills has better prepared students to be practice-ready after graduation their learning experiences are much better than ours were miller recalled in fact when i was working at the village veterinary clinic we hired a young lady who was one of the first graduates of the new curriculum and her clinical skills were phenomenal
millers aspirations for the stevenson center align well with the vmbss mission to enhance animal and human health through transformational education discovery and innovation patient care and public service that impacts our diverse and evolving world
when people see the value in this facility they see the honest work that we do because we care for these pets he said theres a strong bond and then the fact that were associated with one of the best veterinary schools in the country gives us an easy opportunity to promote not only what were doing here but also what is happening at the veterinary school
during his time serving the stevenson center miller will oversee the final expansion of the centers building hes already made quick friends with the 34 residents who currently live at the center and has aspirations to develop even more relationships with pets and their owners who seek the best veterinary care for their pets
it is truly an honor to have been chosen to continue the legacy that is the stevenson center miller shared in the short time i have been serving as director i have come to realize there is an increasing demand from pet owners to ensure there is a means to provide lifelong care for their pets should the need arise
it is my vision that the stevenson center increase its national recognition as a one-of-a-kind facility and more importantly serve as an inspiration for other universities and organizations to establish similar programs offering this type of long-term care to service the increasing demand from the pet-owning population
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr elizabeth crouch has been named the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) assistant dean for professional program admissions a new position created to support enrollment for the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program
crouch now also serves as the vmbs director for diversity equity and inclusion (dei) a position that leads the schools goal to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all
crouch previously served as the vmbs associate dean for undergraduate education she is returning to the school after a brief move to the texas a&m college of arts and sciences with the biomedical sciences (bims); university studiesvet med and bims (usvm); and translational and preclinical neuroscience (nrsc-tpc) undergraduate programs
dr crouch has been an integral part of the bims program for over 21 years and she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about admissions and ideas for improving the admissions process for applicants to our dvm program said dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine
the vmbs dei initiatives require someone who can commit a significant amount of time to that effort he said dr crouch has extensive experience in this area with the bims program and she will lead us to expand the impact of our dei activities and ensure the vmbs is a place where everyone may participate as their genuine and authentic selves
as the new assistant dean for professional program admissions crouch will be responsible for executing new admissions strategies and collecting and analyzing data on dvm admissions to ensure the vmbs is meeting the needs of students and the state of texas
she will also play a role in outreach and recruitment for the dvm program particularly as they support the vmbs diversity equity and inclusion goals
i am very excited about the intersection of diversity and inclusion with the admissions process crouch said i would like to continue efforts to strategically recruit students from all diversity dimensions and welcome them to a school home where colleagues participate widely in inclusion and wellness initiatives
i am also looking forward to working with the campus office of diversity to continue the outstanding trajectory of our school with respect to participation in diversity initiatives trainings and communities that reflect the aggie core values she said
a lifelong aggie crouchs dedication to the vmbs stems from her own undergraduate education she earned her bachelors degree in bims in 1991 followed by a phd in genetics in 1996 and a postdoctoral fellowship in immunogenetics at the university of texas md anderson cancer center
crouch joined the bims program advising team in 2001 and became assistant dean in 2015 she has received numerous honors and awards over the years for her dedication to students including having an endowed scholarship created in her name
the vmbs also holds a special place in crouchs family; her grandfather and an uncle earned their dvms from texas a&m
i am excited to return to the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences crouch said it has been a part of my life since childhood as three generations of my family have degrees from this school beginning with my grandfather in 1938
i started working with the undergraduate program in 2001 and have been honored and humbled to work with such a dedicated school of individuals fully committed to the success of the bims usvm and nrsc-tpc students she said it is my hope that those experiences will allow me to contribute to the strategic efforts of the deans office so that as a college community we continue to create a home where everyone feels welcome
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
life as a stray kitten is hard and gwennie knows this better than most in her first eight weeks of life the calico domestic shorthair had already caught a virus that damaged her eyes and left her essentially blind
fortunately gwennie was not on the streets for long and once rescued her owner and her texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) veterinary team were dedicated to restoring her health and quality of life
her time at the sath also had an added bonus in that it provided an unparalleled learning opportunity for one veterinary student at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
gwennie weighed only 1 pound when she was found by sadie tolbert a blinn college nursing student
my boyfriend and i were driving around and saw a whole herd of kittens in the middle of the road tolbert said later we decided to go back to check on them and put out some food and water i wanted to catch gwennie because i could tell her eye was really infected; i knew she probably couldnt see at all when she ran into a wall as i tried to grab her
after catching gwennie and one of her siblings a male kitten they named simba and noticing the pair was going to need medical care tolbert and her boyfriend decided to adopt them both
ive always rescued animals and taking care of them is just what i do tolbert said
they took the kittens to briarcrest veterinary clinic in bryan where they received the good news that simbas sinus infection would be an easy fix; they also received bad newsthat gwennies eye infection would be more of a challenge
the veterinarian suspected that gwennie had contracted a virus most likely feline herpesvirus that was causing inflammation and infection in her eyes this inflammation had gotten so bad in her right eye that an ulcer had formed and ruptured on her cornea
her treatment would involve a costly surgery one that tolbert a student paying her own way through college was not able to afford fortunately texas a&ms roach family student community outreach surgical program was created for situations just like this
this program gives fourth-year veterinary students at the vmbs additional opportunities to hone their surgical skills by performing a variety of common procedures at the same time the program supports texas pet owners with limited financial means who otherwise would not be able to provide their animals with surgical care by offering these procedures at no cost
i just didnt have the funds and my only other option was to put her down or give her away tolbert said i found the roach fund online and i knew it was my only chance to keep her alive and with me
once gwennie was accepted into the roach surgical program and scheduled for her appointment at the sath in mid-august fourth-year veterinary student parker wurst volunteered to perform the procedure under the supervision and guidance of dr brad bennett a vmbs clinical assistant professor in the saths primary care and general surgery services
because gwennies right eye was too damaged to save she was scheduled for an enucleation surgery or a complete removal of the eyea procedure performed often in general private veterinary practice
we dont have to remove eyes as often as in the past now that we have better ways to treat some things but id say its still a pretty commonplace procedure wurst said fortunately cats usually do great after losing an eye they compensate with their other senses and they usually handle it pretty well
the surgery went smoothly and gwennie healed perfectly without any complications
i feel 100% more comfortable doing this procedure going forward after having dr bennett there to help me through it whereas without the roach fund i wouldnt have gotten that opportunity wurst said after veterinary students graduate we still have mentorship from whomever we work for but its not the same as having that specific time with a teacher to go through the procedure
i am grateful for everyone at a&m the roach fund and ms tolbert for letting me have this experience he said
because gwennies left eye was not as badly infected as the right one her veterinary team decided to see if it would heal from the infection rather than opting to remove it the infection did heal with time but left the eye too damaged for vision
shes going to be permanently blind for the rest of her life but other than that shes going to be healthy and happy shes already growing really fast and gaining a lot of weight tolbert said her favorite toy is a strawberry-patterned mouse and even though it doesnt make noise she has no problem handling it and finding it she carries with her everywhere
the roach fund gave my kitten the chance of life she said shes such a light in my life and i couldnt have asked for a more supportive team at a&m gwen is happy safe and healthy and thats all i could ever hope for!
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
one out of every four american households with pets experiences barriers to veterinary care according to a report by the access to veterinary care coalition
the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) seeks to change that through a variety of outreach initiatives including a new internship program focused on reaching underserved communities
pet healthcare is expensive and we do very high-level stuff here so we have been dreaming about how we can open the hospital doors more said dr jon levine head of the small animal clinical sciences (vscs) department private industry is helping us by creating more pet health insurance which is breaking down some of those barriers but we want to do more we want to keep looking for opportunities to be inclusive and impact the whole state
the underserved communities internship was created to give recent veterinary graduates the opportunity to learn about diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine while completing a 12-month rotating internship at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath)
dr jendaya ogrady a 2021 graduate of the virginia-maryland college of veterinary medicine joined the vmbs as its first underserved communities intern bringing with her a wealth of experience and a passion for serving others
during her year in this position ogrady gained valuable skills and knowledge to support her future career a part of which she hopes to dedicate to providing veterinary care to underserved individuals and communities
growing up in northern virginia ogrady loved joining her father an equine veterinarian and farrier as he went on farm calls to treat horses
her relationship with her father also instilled a love for international travel and serving others which prompted ogrady to go on several veterinary mission trips around the world during her years as an undergraduate and veterinary student
i have traveled to the bottom of the grand canyon to work with the havasupai american indians and to costa ricas osa peninsula to participate in educational workshops for veterinarians and equine owners she said i also did one project for about six weeks in ho chi minh city vietnam working in a human hospital to gain perspective about the different treatments diseases and resources in different regions
despite being influenced by her fathers work with horses and her equine work abroad ogrady discovered a passion for small animal medicine and ophthalmology while in veterinary school
even as a student she began dreaming of ways to combine her love for serving under-reached communities and her new passion for ophthalmology when she heard about the new internship at texas a&m it was the perfect fit
giving back to communities by providing services and education is something that i plan to pursue throughout my career but i originally thought i was going to have to put those things on hold during an internship and residency she said when i saw this opportunity i thought ‘wow i can make a difference while im doing my internship and build those bridges between ophthalmology and giving back
during her year at the sath ogrady worked on a research project focused on finding new ways to bring the veterinary ophthalmology specialty to underserved communities in texas and beyond
many veterinarians and clients in underserved communities may not have access to specialties such as ophthalmology for a variety of reasons location and finances being the most common she said within the last few years the literature from human healthcare describing the provision of eye care to underserved populations has grown but the veterinary literature remains very limited while it feels like we may be starting from just above ground zero it also means there are many avenues to explore
during her internship she analyzed the need for ophthalmic services and the challenges those living in texas underserved communities currently face in receiving specialty care for their pets then she explored a variety of potential options for addressing that need including telemedicine improved communication between general practitioners and specialists and partnerships with shelters or clinics in need of minor ophthalmic surgeries
when i envision a fulfilling career it includes giving back to the communities that nurtured my love of veterinary medicine providing service to individuals who rely on animals for their livelihood and teaching the next generation of students ogrady said
creation of the underserved communities internship first began in late 2019 when levine and dr kenita rogers former vmbs executive associate dean and director for diversity & inclusion began brainstorming new ways to incorporate diversity inclusion and outreach at the sath
they approached vscs faculty about creating an internship with an added emphasis on diversity and inclusion and were shocked and thrilled when more than a third of its faculty members volunteered to help
the resulting working groupincluding levine rogers and mccool as well as drs nance algert brad bennett audrey cook kate creevy jackie davidson ali diesel lindsey gilmour sharon kerwin christine rutter tracy vemulapalli and emma warrydeveloped the program with two overarching goalsto improve the saths outreach to underserved communities and to promote diversity within veterinary medicine
any time you bring in people who have a different perspective or life background than you it makes you better the more people we can bring inespecially those early in their careers like students residents and internsthe more really novel ideas were going to have levine said were going to hear about things that we may not have heard about before were going to be able to have some difficult conversations that are going to make us stronger
in the future the sath plans to host two underserved communities interns each year and will continue to seek applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m university superfund research center housed within the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) has received a five-year renewal of its funding from the national institute of environmental health sciences (niehs) one of the national institutes of health (nih)
since its launch in 2017 the superfund center has focused on understanding and mitigating the health and environmental consequences of exposure to hazardous chemical mixtures following disaster events it is one of 22 university-based multi-project centers within the niehs superfund research program
in the next five years the center will use a series of multi-disciplinary projects to expand upon its findings begin new studies and continue developing practical tools to keep the united states and texas communities safe from climate change-related disaster events
the nihs initial approximate $10 million grant awarded to dr ivan rusyn superfund center director and a university professor of toxicology five years ago has supported the centers initiatives in the areas of disaster research response (dr2) climate change and health
the centers biggest accomplishments have included establishing its nationally and internationally recognized research capacity and the group of investigators that we have as well as demonstrating how the science at texas a&m can be translated to solutions in disaster research and response that assist impacted communities and build resilience to future climate change-related disasters rusyn said
superfund center researchers have conducted sampling after several environmental emergenciesincluding hurricane harvey hurricane florence and the intercontinental terminals company (itc) deer park fireand have co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications on their work during the first five years of funding
the center has also hosted a large number of community outreach events on emergency preparedness; developed new reporting tools for environmental and health data; trained staff and students in disaster response; and played a role in increasing local covid-19 vaccination rates
although the pandemic presented an unexpected challenge for the center it also provided new opportunities for engaging and strengthening relationships with partner communities
we leveraged our partnerships to hold several vaccination drives and community meetings explaining vaccinations rusyn said we wanted to show that were partners to the community in more than just coming and taking samples or administering questionnaires
because of the interdisciplinary nature of the superfund centers work its investigators are housed in multiple colleges at texas a&m as well as at other universities in addition more than 50 trainees including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from several schools and colleges have worked with the superfund center
the centers collaborative opportunities and interdisciplinary science create a lot of opportunities for students rusyn said weve really been able to leverage our partnerships to help them get their degrees get publications and most importantly get jobs
the center is a science-to-practice type of project while 90% of nih-funded projects are just fundamental research thats what allows us to draw a lot of students because they are more interested in the type of work where they can actually see the value and application he said what we are very proud of is that theres not only a large number of trainees but also that it was a very diverse group of individualsdiverse in terms of their affiliation race ethnicity income level and other metrics
the superfund centers new projects will take a broader approach to disaster response and focus on providing fast tangible results to first responders and community members
our big goal as a center for this next five-year cycle is to convert the data we collected into actionable knowledge that our communities and county state and federal agencies can use; a lot of our plans for the near future are focused on what the next challenge is and how we can take things from research to practice rusyn said
the five projects in the next funding cycle will involve finding new strategies for characterizing chemicals in environmental samples; using the centers mrapid air quality testing van to respond to air pollution in disasters; creating tissue chip models to determine how hazardous substances increase the risk of pre-term birth; researching how different tissues and individuals respond to hazardous substances; and engineering materials that can absorb toxins from food water the environment and more
in addition to these projects the center is launching two new cores to support disaster response and to enhance mapping capabilities that help determine how specific disasters will impact regions and industrial facilities
preparing for the grant renewal application was a long process; the superfund centers administration core began planning for it soon after the grant was initially received in 2017 in addition to input from the centers external advisory committee support from texas a&m was instrumental in the application process
what really made this happen five years ago as well as this time is the institutional support especially from texas a&ms office of research rusyn said the university-level and school-level appreciation is outstanding and is really why as a faculty member i love being here
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
at 5 years old many kids dream of owning a horse savannah mize however only wanted one specific horsethe baby of her mare lady bee packin and the reining stallion gunner dun it again owned by tripol ranch
growing up with a mother who worked in the performance horse industry this was not an unusual request for savannah who had been riding since she was 3 years old
i told savannah we couldnt afford it this year and she said ‘well can i just call and ask said skye mize savannahs mother and owner of whoazone equine she calls the breeding farm and just started rattling off all these things like ‘i think this would be a great cross and i was just wondering if we could work a deal
to everyones surprise savannahs determination paid off when the studs owners agreed when the foal was born savannah immediately fell in love
lady bee packin aka kim gave birth on may 9 to the healthy colt which savannah promptly named blue thunder for almost two months she devoted every day to caring for him at their family ranch in franklin
one day in a devastating twist of fate blue thunder came in from pasture not using his right front leg skye who had previously worked as an equine veterinary technician recognized that this was a serious injury despite not knowing the cause
that walk back up to the barn to tell savannah was the longest hundred-yard walk of my life she said
luckily there was an entire community of equine enthusiasts willing to help including a team of large animal veterinarians at the texas a&m large animal teaching hospital (lath)
when dr cameron stoudt-donnell an equine veterinarian at equine sports medicine and rehabilitation in whitesboro heard about blue thunders injury she immediately recommended that he be seen by veterinarians at texas a&m
preliminary radiographs showed that blue thunder had broken both his radius and ulna the two bones just below his elbow joint that compose the upper half of his leg
fractures of the upper limb are fairly common with the elbow being the most common with this type of radius break the horse almost always breaks the ulna too said dr jeffrey watkins a professor of large animal surgery at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs)
he and vmbs clinical assistant professor dr kati glass spent five hours in the operating room repairing blue thunders breaks with metal plates spanning the fracture and held in place with screws to provide stability necessary for healing
what made blue thunders case more challenging however was that one of the breaks went through the elbows growth plate giving the surgeons much less room to attach a standard bone plate
fortunately a t-plate developed by the ao vet expert group led by watkins proved to be the perfect fit for his injury
the surgery was fairly straightforward and the new plate worked very well watkins said interestingly enough the company that markets the implants dps (depuy synthes) offered to donate all of the implants after i shared blue thunders story with them its amazing what a little girl and her story can do to bring out the best in people
as it turns out savannah and blue thunders tale would inspire many others to give too
when skyes close friend ashli critterman heard about blue thunders injury she immediately reached out to her contacts in the equine reining industry to see if anyone would be willing to help
it got out pretty quick that surgery was the only option skye said my customers and clients god bless them came together and donated all kinds of things for a big benefit auction
savannah who loves painting almost as much as she loves horses even donated a portrait of herself and blue thunder by the time the auction was over it had raised more than enough to cover the foals surgery
the reining community always comes running whenever someone needs help skye said you just dont ever think youre the one whos going to need help but whenever you do it sure is humbling to know that theres still good left in this world people are so willing to help everybody even people they dont know
to continue the momentum skye and savannah decided to use any money left over after blue thunders recovery to create the blue thunder fund at the lath for other girls whose horses need lifesaving care
were not the first family that this has happened to and we wont be the last skye said
after two weeks of recovery at the lath blue thunder and kim finally returned home in august where they were met by an overjoyed savannah
thankfully blue thunder is through the worst part already glass said hes in the best bone-making phase of his whole life so hes in an ideal situation to heal
over the next several months blue thunders veterinary team will monitor his growth and development; if the implant spanning his growth plate begins to cause problems the surgeons will remove it
one of the nice things is that we modified the technique a little bit in his case so we may not have to remove all the implants watkins said
since the moment savannah first began to dream of blue thunder she hoped that they would one day compete as a reining team because of the foals swift and successful treatment his injury shouldnt impact his ability to perform according to glass and watkins
i am so excited to have blue thunder home savannah said i want to say thank you to all the people who helped me and him i am confident we have a lot of riding to do in the future maybe ill teach him to paint with me and go on ‘americas got talent after that we can horse show…reining of course
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) has received insight into diversitys health professions higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award for the sixth consecutive year
the health professions heed award recognizes us colleges of the health sciences that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion
the vmbs is one of only six veterinary schools to receive the 2022 heed award and one of only two veterinary schools to receive the award for six years in a row in addition texas a&ms texas a&m university irma lerma rangel school of pharmacy received a health professions heed award and texas a&m university was named a 2022 heed award recipient for the fourth consecutive year
to be recognized with this award for sixth consecutive year is very special said dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m i am extraordinarily proud of our schools community that works very hard to make this place so welcoming and a great place to learn and work
the vmbs will be featured in the december 2022 issue of insight into diversity magazine the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education
we are working hard to support and maintain a culture that allows each individual associated with our program to be their authentic self said dr karen cornell associate dean for professional programs and interim director for the vmbs office of diversity & inclusion there is always more to do and we are committed to continuing to create events that increase awareness and support for all members of our school
diversity is a cornerstone value at the vmbs and the school leads many initiatives throughout the year to strengthen its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to diversity and inclusion (d&i)
in 2022 the vmbs office for diversity & inclusion and the committee for inclusion diversity equity & accountability (c-idea) have launched several new events and campaigns for faculty staff and students
in january the school hosted its first coffee culture & conversations event inviting artists of all kinds to display their work for classmates and colleagues ten individuals presented their artranging from music and poetry to nature photography and paintingand shared their artistic experiences and the thought behind their work
c-idea also hosted several new workshops and events in recognition of mental health awareness month in may the month began with end-of-the-semester stress relief & snacks a large event featuring puppy therapy by aggieland pets with a purpose snacks and drinks and a free green ribbon mental health awareness pin
other events in may included a safety breath workshop led by lisette templin from texas a&ms department of health and kinesiology; a stress busting workshop led by abbie satterfield and tyler baker-wilkinson from texas a&ms counseling & psychological services (caps); stress relief coffee & snacks in the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospitals critical care café; and a question persuade & refer (qpr) suicide prevention training
event attendees were also invited to contribute to a gratitude/compliment wall and a mandalas for mental health art project which were displayed for the entire month
the school also hosted its second annual welcome week in late august which included an inclusivity fair to highlight resources available on campus; panels on first-generation student/american experiences and mentorship; a resilient body & mind seminar; and a bingo! mixer to build new connections among faculty staff and students
in recognition of suicide prevention month in september c-idea the vmbs chapter of the student american veterinary medical association and caps partnered to host surviving & thriving: managing your mental health distress & resilience a lunch and learn session to review the merck veterinary wellbeing study and discuss suicide risk mental health and resiliency
in addition to new initiatives the vmbs has continued to produce the monthly diversity & inclusion digest e-newsletter and to host regular d&i events including civitas community storytelling hours and the spread the love fundraiser for the trevor project
faculty and staff members also continue to receive opportunities throughout the year to take a basic mediation course become certified as an aggie ally and more
finally class activities and outreach opportunities like the texas a&m reach project and operation border health preparedness encourage students to promote inclusivity and work to improve access to veterinary medicine both now and in their future careers
vmbs students also continue to maintain several strong student organizations that are dedicated to supporting a welcoming learning environment such as the graduate student association voice (veterinarians as one inclusive community for empowerment) tamu pride student veterinary medical community (pridesvmc) the vmbs chapter of the latinx veterinary medical association (lvma) and the vmbs white coats
the health professions heed award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employeesand best practices for bothcontinued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion said lenore pearlstein publisher of insight into diversity magazine we take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a health professions heed award recipient our standards are high and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus
for more information about the 2022 health professions heed award visit insightintodiversitycom and for more information on the vmbs diversity and inclusion efforts visit vetmedtamuedu/diversity
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr becky eschmann a faculty member with the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) partnership between texas a&m universitys school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) and west texas a&m universitys paul engler college of agriculture & natural sciences recently earned the prestigious american college of veterinary preventive medicine (acvpm) diplomate certification
only 10% of veterinarians currently hold board certification in at least one specialty dr sarah capik former vero faculty member who recently joined texas animal health commission (tahc) as a field epidemiologist and dr jessie monday veterinary diagnostician with the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) joined eschmann in both preparation for the examination and successful completion of board certification
the addition of specialty training in prevention and control of animal diseases benefits the research educational and outreach missions of vero said dr susan eades associate dean for administration at veros canyon campus these are extremely important principles in veterinary medicine especially in a region of our state where animal agriculture and food production are abundant this advanced certification of dr eschmann dr capik and dr monday will benefit the missions of vero tahc tvmdl and animal health across texas
eschmann a clinical assistant professor of small animal veterinary medicine joined the vmbs in october 2021 she utilizes her previous experience in large animal medicine and her expertise in small animal medicine to fulfill the mission of vero to train highly qualified highly motivated students in the skills needed to serve the texas panhandle region; she educates and empowers students to gain a passion for preventive medicine and one health
eschmann pursued acvpm certification to further support her work within the global veterinary community dedicated to one healththe integrated approach to animal human and environmental health across multiple medical veterinary academic and public health disciplines
experience and expertise in multiple veterinary preventive medicine fields are required for one to become a diplomate of the acvpm as a diplomate i am joining a group of over 900 national and international veterinarians who are committed to the improvement of animal human and environmental health sustainability and well-being eschmann said achieving diplomate status not only means i can provide veterinary students a more expansive educational experience but it also provides opportunity for collaboration with other professionals passionate about one health
she said she appreciates the support she received from vmbs administrators and colleagues as she prepared for the intensive diplomate credentialing and examination
earning diplomate status has enabled me to gain a broader knowledge base on a wide range of national and global issues within preventive medicine; it has pushed me to gain a deeper knowledge of these areas beyond what i previously learned in my educational experiences she said having this deeper knowledge has provided me the ability to enhance the student educational experience and to help them understand how animal human and environmental health are intricately linked
achieving diplomate status not only means i can provide veterinary students a more expansive educational experience but it also provides opportunity for collaboration with other professionals passionate about one health
the american veterinary medicine association (avma) recognizes 22 veterinary specialty organizations comprising 41 distinct specialties including veterinary preventive medicine veterinarians can take examinations to receive recognition as specialists in these identified areas
presently 10 of veros 17 faculty members have earned board certification in at least one area
specialty training gained through the certification process provides these faculty with additional knowledge and skills that then help them prepare students for the wide array of issues that they will face as professionals eades said specifically diplomates of the acvpm have specialized skills in diagnostic medicine epidemiology herd health management population medicine public health and regulatory medicine that are increasingly important to veterinarians today
as an integral component of veterinary medicine the specialty of veterinary preventive medicine focuses on improving animal human being and environmental health through six categories:
to complete the pre-exam credentialing process candidates must complete their doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree and have an additional four years of qualifying experience in at least three of the six veterinary preventive medicine categories additionally they must be sponsored by a veterinarian who currently holds diplomate status and have two references that attest to the candidates competence within preventive medicine
to earn diplomate status candidates must pass a two-day board examination that assesses the candidates knowledge of the six veterinary preventive medicine categories including assessment of communication skills
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) has returned to bryan-college station from their latest mission that helped provide closure to survivors of hurricane ian the deadliest storm to strike the state since 1935
during their deployment to florida which began on oct 4 the vetassisted by texas a&m agrilife extension disaster assessment and recovery (dar) agentsfocused on providing veterinary medical support for all fema urban search and rescue (usar) teams responding in florida
the vet-dar team was deployed when the usars primary search efforts shifted to finding those who did not survive; the team provided care to 38 human remains (hr) search dogs attached to the 22 fema usar teams including texas a&m task force 1
it is important to recognize our role in serving the people that were impacted by the hurricane vet director dr wesley bissett said i always say that our business is one of hope in this case it was also about closure and recovery we kept the hr dogs working and finds were made so that families have answers and certainty the certainty is obviously a sad one but it does allow the survivors to not be left with questions that will never be answered and to begin the process of dealing with their grief our work is important for many reasons
bissett noted that dr debra zorans early efforts within the usar system were important to the success of the vets mission in florida zoran has served as a member and veterinarian for texas a&m task force 1 since 1997 the high-level of trust that zoran has fostered between the usar and the vet enables the two units to work better together bissett said
bissett also noted that the vets work during their hurricane ian mission came in waves their strike teams saw all of the dogs working each day which resulted in a rush followed by down time while the dogs were out conducting searches
on oct 8 the vet was located at fort myers beach county officials had developed a reopening plan that allowed home and business owners their first opportunity to see their property since the storm hit the area
bissett noted that the area was similar to rockport post-hurricane harvey and prepared his team for what would turn out to be an emotional day for residents who were seeing the extent of the damage to their community for the first time
i suspect that many have been holding out some hope that all of the things that are so important to them may have miraculously survived bissett informed his team on oct 8 the vast majority will begin to confront the reality that this is not true it is going to be a sad day there are others who are still hoping that a missing loved one will be found our role is to keep the hr dogs working so that this may be possible and to ensure that those that should not be working are given time off so that they will be ready for the next disaster
while this was the vets first deployment to the east coast it shared similarities to previous missions the vet completed closer to home one example of this included the robust emergency management system developed under the texas division of emergency management
bissett pointed to the florida department of agriculture animal supply point that was set up in arcadia florida which provided a centrally located place to pick up supplies necessary for sustaining all species of animals
texas a&m agrilife extension pioneered this approach in hurricane ike bissett said it is now becoming a national standard the texas a&m vet-dar team was demobilized on oct 9 when usar operations concluded and teams working the response began to demobilize the vet-dar team began the drive back to bryan-college station on oct 10 arriving at the texas a&m rellis campus the vets base of operations on oct 12
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
like most stories in veterinary medicine pinkys starts with a trip to the veterinarian the twist however is that the visit wasnt even for himthe domestic longhair kitten just happened to tag along for his brothers appointment when their veterinarian noticed he had a rare condition
this chance observation was the first of several fortunate events that would end up saving pinkys life
pinky came to the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) at 3 months old with pectus excavatum a condition that threatened his long-term survival and ability to function like a normal cat
pectus excavatum is a congenital disorder in which the sternum doesnt form properly said dr chanel berns a first-year resident at the sath because the sternum is pointed inward toward the chest cavity it can affect these patients hearts and their ability to expand their lungs
fortunately because of the many individuals who came together to support his carefrom cat rescuers and fosters to a veterinary student and clinicianspinky is now on the path to a full healthy life
it was a day like any other when tammy kidwell founder of the dallas-based rescue organization cat matchers received a call that two stray 1-month-old kittens needed her help
she took the nearly identical kittensnamed pink (which quickly developed into pinky) and floyd in honor of the bandto a local foster who cared for them for several weeks and coordinated their neuters
the brothers were almost ready for adoption when floyd began sneezing leading their foster to schedule a check-up with a new veterinarian to make sure everything was ok as luck would have it pinky decided to tag along and jumped in the kennel at the last minute
when the vet pulled him out of the carrier the first thing she did was call me and ask if she could do an x-ray kidwell said
the new veterinarian had immediately noticed that pinkys chest did not feel like it should; she could feel his breastbone or sternum curving up toward his spine because of his tiny size and long hair the abnormality was difficult to detect for those unfamiliar with the condition
the treatment involved a rare procedure that no one in the dallas area was willing to attempt so kidwell scheduled an appointment with texas a&m and began searching for a medical foster in the college station area since pinky would need weekly follow-ups at the sath and dallas is three-and-a-half hours away
all of my veterinarian friends reached out to their foster contacts but heard nothing kidwell said on the day i drove him to a&m i told a friend who heads a rescue group that i had nowhere for this cat to go when i picked him up later that week she and three other rescue groups all reached out to their contacts in central texas that day and finally someone from a&m posted it on facebook
it was there on the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) class of 2025 facebook group that the post caught the eye of second-year veterinary student molly guyette who was more than willing to give up some of her summer break to care for pinky
it was an amazing way for all of the rescue groups to work together kidwell said there were lots of moving parts that had to be put together and i was in awe when they all fell into place
molly has been amazing and she and her boyfriend have just been great with pinky she even set up a google drive just for me and his first foster where we can see his pictures every day kidwell said i also told her ‘you may not have been able to be in the surgery but you are helping him recover from something rare and seeing it firsthand as a vet thats going to come in handy
the treatment for pectus excavatum is performed about twice a year in the saths soft tissue surgery service making it a relatively rare procedure even so pinkys care teamled by berns clinical professor dr jacqueline davidson and third-year resident dr catrina silveirawas confident they could help him
pectus excavatum really narrows the area where their heart is and sometimes they can have trouble breathing from it berns said what we do in these cases is essentially try to pull the sternum down which puts his heart in a more normal position and gives him more ability to expand his lungs and live a healthier life
to move the sternum into the correct position pinkys team placed an external splint on his chest that was connected to his sternum with a series of sutures by tightening these sutures small amounts each week they were able to gradually pull the sternum into place similar to how braces straighten teeth
this procedure needs to be done when the cat is no more than 3 months old for the bones to be able to move easily fortunately for pinky his condition was discovered just in time
with young cats like pinky their bones are still made up of a lot of cartilage especially in that area so the sternum is a lot more pliable berns said once cats get older the cartilage in their sternum starts to get more mineralized so the procedure doesnt work as well and its harder to get an immediate improvement
that immediate improvement was especially evident in pinkys case according to berns
in pinkys first set of x-rays before the splint was placed he had a very small amount of his lungs functioning normally and his heart was very deviated to the side she said then in his immediate post-op images you can see that the splint made a huge improvement right away his lungs were able to expand and his heart was in the correct position
along with internal improvements pinkys behavior indicated that he began to feel better right away
pinky has always been pretty happy and active but definitely much more so now berns said most of our cats and dogs that have had this procedure seem a lot more energetic after it they had some exercise intolerance before surgery because they couldnt expand their lungs properly but afterwards they just become like new animals
the splint was left in place and gradually tightened for four weeks until the veterinarians felt that pinkys bones had mineralized enough that it could be removed and the sternum would stay in place
although there is still a chance pinky will need surgery in the future the splint ensured that he will be a happy healthy kitten for the foreseeable future
by the time pinky finished his recovery guyettes family had fallen in love and decided to adopt him he and his brother had been separated long enough that they were no longer bonded but guyettes roommate decided to adopt floyd anyway so that the kittens could be closer together
in addition to his case being full of lucky moments one other thing everyone who has met pinky can agree on is that he has a special talent for capturing hearts
the day i drove pinky down to college station we left extra early and arrived an hour and a half before his appointment kidwell said we were there so early that i decided to let him out of his carrier in the car cats usually want to explore and run around your car and then you freak out thinking youre never going to get them back in the carrier but he immediately climbed into my lap and was perfectly content just lying there hes just the most laid-back sweet cat
even for those at the sath who see cats on a daily basis pinkys case will be one to remember
he has got the most personality ive seen from a kitten in a while berns said he had a lot of fans here both on our surgery service and in the icu we had a lot of people who were kind of hopeful they would get to adopt him at the end of all of this
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
among the reasons dr bill and joyce roach so dearly value education is because of the profound impact education has had on their lives
graduating from veterinary school was a life-changing thing for me and my family said bill veterinary class of 57 because of the education that i got here at texas a&m i was able to go out and practice do what i wanted to do and get paid for what i really wanted to do
growing up in andrews texas in a family that didnt have much a professional education was a luxury bill never thought he would have
my daddy was a carpenter and a painter a really really hard worker; we had a little place outside of town where we had milk cows all kinds of chickens big gardens and an orchard bill said we grew or raised nearly everything we ate
when the time came to make a decision about his education bill initially considered texas tech which at only 120 miles away was considerably closer than college station but after visiting texas a&m as a member of several high school agricultural teams the choice was an easy one
i just thought texas a&m was the premier university and if youre going to get an education you go to a good one he said
at texas a&m he was a member of the corps of cadetsan experience he said prepared him for veterinary schooland was originally an animal husbandry major with plans to become a county extension agent
my second year i was in class with pre-vet students and i realized that if i became an agriculture agent advancement would require moving from a county with a smaller population to a county with a bigger population bill said then i realized i wanted to try something that offered greater opportunities; since i was in classes with a bunch of pre-vet students had good grades and liked animals i thought i would change my major to pre-vet and apply to veterinary school
as bill entered the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) he embarked on a path that would enable him to give back to texas a&m in ways he never dreamed he would be able to
as a veterinary student bill returned to west texas in the summers and at christmas holidays to work in the oil fields as a roustabout to earn enough money to continue paying for his six-year degree it was there that he met joyce an andrews transplant by way of california and oklahoma
(we met because) i had a date with another boy but i stood him up joyce recalled when i asked my dad to tell him i wasnt there my dad said ‘i am not going to lie for you so i had to get in my car and leave i met bill while i was ducking that boy
that was just a lucky day the day we met each other bill said
in 1956 between his junior and senior year in veterinary school bill and joyce married and that summer bill worked in a small animal hospital in san angelo not only applying the knowledge of medicine and surgery learned in the classroom but learning how to make a living as a business owner
following his graduation bill and joyce moved to killeen where they raised their three children owned killeen veterinary clinic for 37 years and lived a good life
killeen was a really good place to grow up bill said it was a very patriotic community being right next to fort hood the largest military base in the free world; probably half of my clients were either military or retired military
among the encounters bill had as a practitioner was caring for the dog of gen george s pattons son who was a two-star general at the time and quarantining the dog that bit elvis presley when he was stationed at fort hood
he was trying to sneak through the backyard so he wouldnt come in contact with all of the teenagers who always drove up and down by his house bill said with joyce adding that presley had lived across the creek from them so my claim to fame was being the veterinarian who quarantined the dog that bit elvis presley
but their proximity to presley wasnt as glamorous as one might think
at the time i didnt even like him because there were so many cars that went up and down the road joyce said those streets werent paved then and it was very dusty
in 1958 the roaches opened killeen veterinary clinic with a lot of heart and a little know-how but very little money
when i graduated from a&m we had lived pretty poor for a time; we didnt even have enough money to leave a&m when we moved to killeen bill said we borrowed $200 from the a&m mothers club and they let me pay it back at i think $10 a month
it was pretty difficult starting out on my own with finding a place to set-up housekeeping and a decent car to drive; starting my own veterinary practice; and a daughter on the way he said
while bill had always had an affinity for surgery he received most of his surgical experience as a veterinary student outside of the classroom at the practice he worked at in san angelo; in veterinary school at that time the professors mostly performed the surgeries while the students watched
i had a great veterinary education but i had to learn about how to make a living as an owner of a veterinary practice i needed to learn about record keeping real estate taxes and investments bill said education opens up so many opportunities and i wanted the knowledge to participate in those opportunities
i never stopped being inspired by education and the life-changing opportunities it brings he said
this is the resounding sentiment behind the roaches decision to fund the dr william a roach 55 family department head chair in small animal clinical sciences
in early conversations the roaches had with the vmbs development team including dr bubba woytek and vmbs small animal clinical sciences department (vscs) head dr jon levine on how the funds would be used levine presented the idea to establish the roach family student community outreach surgical program
when my family decided to endow this department chair in small animal surgery i wanted it to do something meaningful for students as surgery was the most interesting and rewarding part of veterinary practice for me bill said i learned most of my surgical skills after graduation; i wanted todays students to have more opportunities while in college to perform a greater number and variety of surgeries to build their skills and confidence while being taught by some really outstanding veterinary surgeons
dr levine and his imaginative team expounded on my ideas and developed a program administered by students with surgeries performed by students and monitored by surgeons on pets that risk being euthanized because of a lack of funds to pay for their surgery he said
because surgical procedures are being offered for brazos valley pets belonging to owners with limited financial means who otherwise would not be able to receive the much-needed surgical care the roaches see the program as win-win
in addition students get experience in some of the business aspects of veterinary medicine something bill had to learn through mentorship and on his own
and as importantly those living in the bryan-college station area an area the roaches love so much get the benefit of more time with their animal companions
not only do we get to help the community which is something joyce and i have done all of our lives but we get to help the community we are a part of bill said
the roaches said they will forever be grateful to the a&m mothers club which stepped in when they needed help the most and in the spirit of aggies helping aggies they are delighted that their generosity will impact two of the things bill loves mosteducation and veterinary medicine
everyone wins with these well-thought-out ideas bill said joyce and i are very pleased to be able to give back to texas a&m and the school of veterinary medicine in return for all they have done for me and my family of aggies
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

dr paul morley a professor at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) and director of research for the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program has been selected as the holder of the newly established sally rau mcintosh endowed chair for veterinary strategic initiatives
the chair was created by sally rau mcintosh in december 2021 to support the teaching research service and professional development activities of its holder morley began his four-year term as the sally rau mcintosh endowed chair in september 2022
as director of research morley supports the growth of research programs for all vero faculty supervises and provides oversight for research staff and laboratories and promotes research exposure programs for veterinary and undergraduate students
he is a productive researcher in his own right having published more than 210 scientific journal articles in his career 32 of these since the beginning of 2019 his primary research interests include antibiotic resistance infectious diseases in food animals and improving infection control and biosecurity to manage health risks that are important in veterinary medicine agriculture and public health
during his career morley has received 124 awards totaling $16 million to support his research
in addition to his administrative and research roles morley teaches courses on metagenomic sequencing bioinformatics and research techniques for graduate students at the vmbs and west texas a&m universitys paul engler college of agriculture and natural sciences
morley was recommended for the sally rau mcintosh endowed chair by a committee of four faculty members from within and beyond the vmbs
dr morley has a proven track record of research funding and publication that has grown year over year said a representative from the committee this has borne out at texas a&m as dr morley has led the vero research faculty to acquire just under $5 million in research funding and have over 60 publications in print or accepted since 2019
of equal importance to his own productivity is dr morleys track record of mentoring graduate students and young faculty in success the committee member continued dr morleys commitment to addressing issues of societal importance including food safety and food production is evident in his leadership of the vero research program
morley earned his doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from washington state university in 1989 and a phd from the university of saskatchewan in 1995 in 1997 he became a diplomate of the american college of veterinary internal medicine (large animal internal medicine)
prior to joining texas a&m in 2019 he held faculty positions at the ohio state university colorado state university and the colorado school of public health
morley has won numerous awards throughout the years including most recently the vmbs outstanding research leader award and the texas veterinary medical association research award in 2022
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
thirteen members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) and seven texas a&m agrilife extension agents have been deployed to florida by texas gov greg abbott in response to hurricane ian one of the deadliest storms to hit florida in modern history
the vet was activated on oct 4 at the request of florida officials through the emergency management assistance compact
the 13 vet members who deployed in the early hours of the morning will play a vital role in supporting the response and recovery efforts by offering veterinary support for more than 80 urban search and rescue (usar) dogs which represents one of the largest usar deployments in history
while the vet previously has deployed twice to california in support of wildfire relief efforts this is the first deployment for the team to the east coast
hurricanes are among the threats that the vet plans for frequently while each hurricane presents unique challenges vet director dr wesley bissett said there are some commonalities to how animals react in these situations
virtually all disasters impact animals bissett explained traumatic injuries and other medical issues resulting from flood waters or storm surges are what we expect to see most with hurricanes there also are always issues associated with the stress of what the animals will go through
flood waters are very contaminated which makes them particularly problematic for usar dogs and resident animals alike the vet developed a special decontamination unit to assist in removing the contaminants from the search-and-rescue dogs and other small animals brought to the vet base of operations
bissett said he and vet are thankful that the state of texas is committed to a robust emergency response for animals
the state of texas under the guidance of the texas division of emergency management and texas animal health commission has developed a robust emergency support system as we all recognize that we must provide for the entire family including pets while also protecting the health and well-being of agricultural animals bissett said
in total the texas division of emergency management (tdem) has mobilized and deployed more than 100 personnel to support floridas response and recovery efforts as directed by abbott personnel deployed include:
additional resources may be deployed as requested
follow the vets actions on deployment on the vet facebook page
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university was there at a critical time in michael hawkins life
ive always had a severe learning disability and academics were always extremely challenging for me he said but during my time at texas a&m i had professors and counselors who really helped me get through it who helped me academically every time i went to a professor and said ‘im struggling with this can you help me out they would work with me
now as the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospitals (vmth) first full-time counselor hes hoping to return the favor
when i found this job i saw it as an opportunity to help students staff and clients and just be there for their critical moments too just like people were there for me he said that was one of the really exciting things for me
hawkins joined the vmth at a time when more and more attention is being paid to the mental health side of the veterinary industry he says its a dream opportunity to come back and make an impact at a place that had such an impact on him
his challenges go back to childhood when he learned that he had a severe type of dyslexia which not only caused him to switch information around as he processed it but also when he tried to recall it later
if i had to learn 123 my brain might process it as 321 or 312 he said then as i recalled the information my brain would scramble it again it might be 132 at that point i attended a school for children with dyslexia called the winston school until the sixth grade at that point in my life graduating from high school would have been a huge accomplishment
hawkins wasnt satisfied with that outlook though he moved to a college prep high school where things were even tougher; he studied at least three hours per night just to pass when he was tested again he was told that his disability was still severe and even if he graduated high school it was even more unlikely he would be able to graduate from college
however he embraced that challenge also
my five years at texas a&m were the most challenging i had ever faced he said i had to study harder than i ever had before if i had a test i would start studying weeks in advance for hours and hours to get a ‘c
it was a constant battle for me to keep trying and to stay motivated but i would often go to my professors for help and every professor i approached was not only helpful but encouraging he said they spent extra time with me and were very supportive
he originally studied finance but switched to psychology because at the time he wanted to help dyslexic children and their families
many people think that learning disabilities only affect ones academic life he said the reality is that it can have an impact on every aspect of a persons life it affects a person emotionally socially and even physically
hawkins graduated from texas a&m in 1991 and went on to earn a masters degree in social work from st edwards university in austin it was at st edwards that he discovered a passion for law enforcement that would guide him to a new career pathworking with the houston police departments crisis intervention response team
hawkins spent a decade in that role during which he rode in a patrol car with an officer and responded to individuals in severe crisis
we responded to ‘the worst of the worst calls he said but one of the things i really liked about itand i go back to my time at a&mis that learning to overcome my disability actually helped me focus and problem solve quickly when i was on a call
i could go into these chaotic situations and the discipline that i had learned helped me he said in their most difficult times and challenges i was able to connect with them get them help bring some kindness and compassion and peacefully resolve the situation
now at the vmth hawkins is using that experience as he works with the vmth staff and clients who are facing difficult decisions and situations
one of the challenges he has witnessed at the vmth is that sometimes people dont seek out the emotional support they need because of a perceived social stigma around having an emotional attachment to an animal
ive had people tell me that others have told them ‘oh its just a pet he said but for a lot of people pets are a part of their family especially during covid-19 when people cant have the normal social interactions that they usually do animals provide that same comfort and companionship so i have to tell people ‘this animal is part of your family; it provided you support ignore anyone whos saying otherwise
hawkins also uses his skills to support the hospital staff something he said hes looking forward to doing more of especially because the mental health of those in the veterinary industry is something that was overlooked for too long even as suicide rates rose in recent years in the profession the vmth is one of several veterinary hospitals that have added more support for the mental health of the staff
i see accomplishing that mission by helping the doctors and staff when they need to debrief maybe taking on some of that emotional load he said hopefully by addressing the emotional side of things they can also focus on the care of the animals
veterinary medicine is more of an exact science but i see the work that i do as more like an art he said each situation is a little different and requires different skills application or interaction
hawkins experience in dealing with chaotic situations also made him a perfect fit for the veterinary emergency team (vet); hawkins has deployed with the team once since joining vmth
i was a part of a lot of crisis scenes in houston and went into really active very large chaotic scenes he said i hope to be able to go into some of these scenes with the vet and provide support in that sense; do debriefings if needed; and help make sure the team members are taking care of themselves
even though the world of veterinary medicine is different from the types of scenes he responded to in houston he said there are universal aspects to the job
grief is grief and sadness is sadness hawkins said when i was on patrol i experienced people feeling profound grief and here the clients im speaking with at the hospital may be dealing with profound grief whether it is for an animal a person or something else there are similarities
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
its not every day that veterinarians at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) get to sew a pacemaker onto a beating heart roughly the size of a grape in fact until march 2021 the procedure had only been done twice at the hospital
but when hypnos a 5-year-old ferret arrived at the sath with a very slow heart rate a team of more than a dozen veterinary specialists technicians and students took on the challenge of helping the beloved pet return home healthy to his owner and ferret friends
and a challenge it was as this was the first ferret pacemaker procedure at the sath in almost 10 years
hypnos experience began when owner charles teel took him to gulf coast veterinary specialists in houston after noticing signs of lethargy and gastrointestinal issues their exotics specialist dr becky pacheco performed an electrocardiogram and discovered that hypnos had a pathologic arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm called third-degree av block
thats when essentially the top chamber and the bottom chamber of the heart arent talking to one another and the signal cannot get from the top to the bottom of the heart to tell it to beat said sath veterinary resident dr blakeley janacek hypnos primary cardiology doctor if the electrical bridge between the two is out then the heart does not beat nearly as fast as it should
the best course of treatment for this condition which is also seen in people and many other animals is the surgical implantation of a pacemaker to manage the heartbeat with electrical impulses
pacheco suggested bringing hypnos to texas a&m where veterinary cardiologists implant pacemakers on a regular basis because most of these patients are dogs however the aggie veterinarians began doing research right away to learn as much as possible about other pacemaker cases in ferrets; they learned the first was reported in 2006
that was homework that we all enjoyed janacek said it was a fun adventure with the benefit of getting to help a little guy
once hypnos arrived at the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) for his operation janacek was joined by a large team of colleagues including dr ashley saunders a veterinary cardiologist and vmbs professor; dr vanna dickerson a veterinary surgeon and vmbs assistant professor; dr dalton hindmarsh an emergency & critical care veterinary resident; and dr mauricio lepiz an anesthesiologist and vmbs clinical associate professor
in addition numerous other residents technicians and fourth-year veterinary students played a role in ensuring the success of hypnos procedure
i was just a very small piece of the puzzle janacek said it was really really important that we had everybody in place and that we were able to work together thats one of the cool things about working here at texas a&m
although the sath did not have an exotics specialist available for hypnos case hindmarsh and dr rachel ellerd (a fourth-year veterinary student at the time) both had experience with ferrets and helped care for him before during and after the procedure
we wouldnt have been able to bring him in if dr hindmarsh was not so comfortable working with ferrets janacek said rachel was also a good resource for anyone who had general ferret husbandry questions she was super comfortable handling him so she was a big asset to the team
ellerd a recent graduate who is specializing in exotic pet medicine felt that fate was on her side in that she happened to be doing her cardiology rotation when hypnos arrived at the sath which typically does not see many exotic pets
i was able to use my background in exotics to help with his history-taking physical exam and treatment while he was here said ellerd ‘21 being a part of the third ferret pacemaker surgery ever performed at texas a&m and seeing so many specialists come together really made me excited for my future in exotic pet medicine
as the surgery began the veterinarians knew they would need to be extra careful while working on such a small animal but they also needed to work quickly so hypnos wasnt under anesthesia for too long
the biggest concern was if the team could move fast enough because once we start anesthesia the heart rate can go down janacek said it involves getting him anesthetized positioned prepped and draped; a surgeon getting into his abdomen and then his chest to sew the pacemaker onto his heart; and plugging the battery inall with the clock ticking
there were moments of stress but everyone was so enthusiastic and willing to work to help save the patient that we just plowed ahead doing our best to get him paced awake and home doing ferret-like things she said
as time went on the veterinary team showed the depth of their talents as they worked to get everything done in time
we have a tremendous anesthesia team that facilitates a lot of things in this hospital and helps a lot of different species theyre fantasticthose are tiny little ferret vessels youre talking about putting catheters in janacek said and dr dickerson was the surgeon who sewed the pacemaker onto a very very tiny beating heart which is a really tremendous feat
once the pacemaker was attached to the outer walls of the heart its lead was connected to a battery pack that was placed in hypnos abdomen
when preparing hypnos for surgery the veterinary team also discovered a tumor on his pancreas called an insulinoma that was causing low blood glucose luckily this tumor was easily removed during the pacemaker procedure
about two hours after the surgery began hypnos was stitched up and ready to begin his recovery
hypnos improvement was almost immediate his blood glucose returned to normal levels within 48 hours of removing the tumor and he was already feeling playful the day after surgery
thanks to his new pacemaker hypnos heart will keep a steady rhythm at 120 beats per minute allowing him to live the rest of his life without any danger from his heart condition
looking back janacek is proud of the team effort that went into ensuring hypnos recovery by both his veterinary team and devoted owner
he would not have had much of a life if we didnt do the procedure janacek said it was good that his owner was able and willing to pursue the surgery every ferret owner ive ever met has been extremely kind and cares a lot about their little ferrets but hypnos owner was uniquely dedicated
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
bickie and bill coffey dont just want the best for their own pets; they want the best for everyones pets
that love of animals and the human-animal bond are why some clients at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) small animal teaching hospital (sath) have found their bills mysteriously paid
its why the coffeys will do whatever it takes for their pets to get care at texas a&m whether thats flying them from wyoming to texas for emergency care or braving the worst ice storm in a generation
and its why the coffeys have not only been strong vocal supporters of a new small animal teaching hospital at texas a&m but strong philanthropic supporters as well
after all texas a&ms small animal teaching hospital has done for our family this is the least we can do bickie said im ready to see this thing get built
the coffeys passion for their pets and the trust they have in the sath clinicians and support staff are demonstrated in an experience bickie had during the statewide freeze in february of 2020
during the freeze the coffeys small yorkshire terrier jojo was having vomiting episodes and needed to be seen by a veterinarian when bickie called the college station police departments non-emergency number to check on the road conditions the officer told her that they were encouraging everyone to stay off of the roads
she was the nicest officer; she had such sympathy for my fur baby bickie said she asked me how i would get to a&m and when i told her down wellborn she said they had officers all along wellborn who would keep an eye on me
the sath ended up needing to keep jojo overnight and as bickie was walking back to her car one of the electrical workers coming into town asked her where she was headed since they were going the same direction they allowed her to join the convoy of electrical workers on their way through town
for the coffeys this experience was an especially powerful reminder that while much of the city was stuck at home there was a place they could rely on to help their pets in a critical time of need at all hours of the day or night in the midst of a global pandemic and a historic ice storm there were people who would stop at nothing to provide that care
i felt silly going out in the bad weather to be honest but jojo needed that care she said it meant the world to me that texas a&m was open and that the doctors and technicians were ready to help
that wasnt the coffeys first dramatic trip to the sath
a few years ago their daughter leigh called from jackson hole wyoming saying that her veterinarian had recommended taking her cat to an animal hospital in colorado instead of going to colorado though she got on a flight to college station and brought gracie all the way to the sath where she received chemotherapy and surgery to remove a cancerous kidney
it was like she was a new cat bickie said we were thinking she had 12 or 14 more months to live but its been three years and this cat is still doing wonderfully we take her in every three months and shes still at the level she was when they removed the kidney
the coffeys have been bringing their animals to the sath for more than a decade now and in that time theyve seen their share of other clients going through the emotions of bringing in an injured or sick pet for help
i was there one time when these two girls whose dog had been hit by a car were sitting there calculating in their head how they were going to pay for treatment and what they were going to do bickie said
so not for the first time bickie quietly told the billing department that she would cover whatever the two couldnt pay that day
if you can how could you not do that she said
its that same love that has led them to become so passionate about building a new teaching hospital
having been inside the sath theyve seen the need for more space as demand for services has increased over the years and they know that with new facilities the already high quality of care all animals receive will only improve
weve seen what they can do and theyre incredible bickie said but its how much they care thats the difference
weve come in and the students have remembered us they must see all kinds of clients but they dont just treat you and move on; they remember you and your animals and theyre just so kind she said i love that placethey just care
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr ramesh vemulapalli has been selected as the new executive associate dean of the texas a&m university school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) effective oct 1
vemulapalli previously served as a professor and head of the vmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) a position he held for the past six years
in this new role vemulapalli will hold the second-highest administrative position at the school and will be responsible for developing and implementing best practices that promote the career success of vmbs faculty in close collaboration with vmbs department heads
i am honored and excited to serve the vmbs community as executive associate dean and i am thrilled about the opportunity to help move our academic programs forward on the exciting path to preeminence vemulapalli said
one of my priorities in this role is to lead efforts to promote faculty excellence he said we have incredibly productive world-class faculty and we should provide them with opportunities to do their personal best at the vmbs
vemulapalli earned a bachelor of veterinary science & animal husbandry from andhra pradesh agricultural university in 1986 followed by a master of veterinary science from the indian veterinary research institute in 1989
he moved to the united states in 1991 to pursue a phd in microbiology and immunology from the university of maryland which he completed in 1996 followed by four years of postdoctoral research at the virginia-maryland regional college of veterinary medicine
he held faculty and administrative positions at purdue university before joining texas a&m in 2016
his courses at the vmbs have included veterinary immunology infectious diseases biomedical microbiology and great diseases of the world
vemulapalli has also dedicated much of his career to research with his top interests being the development of vaccines and diagnostic assays for infectious diseases
many of his research projects have involved brucellosis a bacterial zoonotic disease that threatens livestock industries and human health especially in developing countries his research program has been funded by the national institutes of health and the united states department of agriculture
on the international level his activities have included advising the government of indias department of biotechnology on their network project on brucellosis; providing hands-on molecular diagnostics workshops to veterinarians in kabul afghanistan; and serving as an expert consultant to the animal health division of the international atomic energy agency on irradiated brucellosis vaccines
dr albert mulenga vtpb professor and associate head for the departments research and graduate studies will serve as interim vtpb department head for one year with the option for a second year if needed based on input from the vtpb faculty to the office of the dean
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr jessica galloway-peña an assistant professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) has been named a 2022-23 montague-center for teaching excellence (cte) scholar
the texas a&m university montague-cte scholar award is a distinguished honor in teaching excellence awards are given annually to one tenure-track faculty member from each school or college based on their early success as an educator and commitment to teaching undergraduate students
galloway-peña said she is grateful for the positive feedback she has received from colleagues students and mentors and aspires to use this opportunity to have the biggest sphere of influence as possible in young people
i am absolutely thrilled to receive such a prestigious honor and to be among the most fantastic educators before me at such an early stage in my career she said it is an absolute privilege to have my teaching efforts supported by the montague family
in 2006 galloway-peña earned her bachelors degree with honors in biology from our lady of the lake university in san antonio she initially planned to teach science to high school students but ultimately decided to continue her own education and teach at the university level
i was getting my secondary teaching certification to become a high school biology and chemistry teacher when i did an undergraduate summer research experience at the university of texas medical school she said this solidified my interest in academic research but i always kept my passion for teaching being a tenure-track faculty member includes all of my favorite things: research teaching writing and advocacy
galloway-peña then earned her doctorate in microbiology and molecular genetics at the university of texas graduate school of biomedical sciences in 2013 and went on to conduct a postdoctoral fellowship at the university of texas md anderson cancer center
in the fall of 2020 she joined the vtpb faculty and has since taught vtpb 405 biomedical microbiology to undergraduate students majoring in biomedical sciences she has also directed studies for graduate students in gene 608 critical analysis of genetic literature as well as research-based courses for both graduate and undergraduate students
in her classes galloway-peña aims to simply provide an environment in which students can learn
i believe that science should be fun for everyone she said if a student makes an effort to take responsibility for their learning i will always make a commitment to engage myself in their learning process i maintain an open-door policy to discuss course material advise students on their career choices or mentor them in their personal lives i believe an individual who is balanced in all facets of their life will flourish in their education
as part of her recognition as a cte scholar galloway-peña will receive a $6 500 grant to aid in her development of innovative teaching methods
when it comes to science i want students to learn to love the process not the outcome she said everyone wants resolution but in science there isnt always one the previous design of the lecture for the biomedical microbiology course generally required recall of knowledge
in order to develop her students higher-order thinking skills galloway-peña introduced case-based learning (cbl) to the biomedical microbiology course which she describes as an interactive student-centered exploration of real-life scenarios with this approach students gather knowledge on symptomatology patient history and clinical laboratory results and then use this information to determine the causative agent of a patients illness a diagnosis and treatment options for a simulated case much like a practicing physician or veterinarian
this type of learning was very well-received by students with many positive comments in student course evaluations galloway-peña said the student feedback further motivated me to include more higher-level thinking tactics within my biomedical microbiology course as such i propose to continue my integration of cbl as well as research-based learning (rbl) within my course rbl provides a framework that helps prepare students to be lifelong inquirers and learners the grant will be used to provide financial support for more research-based learning within the framework of biomedical microbiology
ultimately galloway-peñas goal is to have a positive influence on as many potential young scientists and health professionals as possible
i view science and research as a vehicle to teach students to think critically and outside of the box she said as an educator my hope is to cultivate the best atmosphere for my students to formulate their own ideas and be enthusiastic about science as well as to provide a strong foundation for real-world application of their knowledge critical thinking and problem-solving skills i want to make sure my students succeed no matter what their goals may be their success is my successin life and in their education and career thats what keeps me going
galloway-peña said she has felt the utmost support from vtpbs department head dr ramesh vemulapalli and associate dean for research & graduate studies dr mike criscitiello she is also grateful to her husband for the continuous support he has provided so that she can achieve her career goals and be present for her students and trainees
i am very pleased that dr galloway-peñas passion for undergraduate teaching and student success has been recognized with this prestigious award vemulapalli said she is an inspiring teacher and mentor to students and a true representative of the caliber of educators we have at the vmbs
the montague-cte scholars awards are named in honor of kenneth montague 37 a distinguished alumnus and outstanding trustee of the texas a&m foundation
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
for as long as she can remember recent biomedical sciences graduate emma bender 22 has loved animals and desired to become a veterinarian when she discovered a passion for community service as well she decided to dedicate her career to serving both people and animals
while volunteering at a service event for the texas a&m student organization ags reach she had an idea that would allow her to start achieving her goals while still a student
bender recalled that members of her local community had reduced access to veterinary care for their pets and came up with a way to make a difference
i was having a conversation about a health fair we were planning for our essential aggies when i started thinking it would be really cool if we could take care of their pets as well the plano native said
her dream became a reality when the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) and the reach project of bryan partnered to host the reach pet health fair for texas a&ms essential workers
during the recurring event service workers from the texas a&m campus are invited to bring their pets to a free pet wellness clinic that offers physical examinations heartworm and fecal tests heartworm prevention and vaccinations by vmbs veterinary students under faculty supervision
the reach (respect empowerment aspiration community hope) project is a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by texas a&m alumnus max gerall 18 to support the universitys more than 3 000 contracted third-party workers including food service custodial grounds and maintenance employees many of whom face daily struggles
reach provides these community members with health education and housing resources areas in which many of them feel gaps the nonprofit regularly operates in partnership with texas a&m-affiliated ags reach which provides the manpower to help reach achieve its goals
partnering with the vmbs the reach pet health fair provides free services to the pets of essential workers who otherwise may not be able to access the same level of care
one of the clients was chanika moses a dietitian for compass usa who works at texas a&m who brought her dog puppins and cat noodles for a checkup
it went very well and it was a great experience moses said these pets are our support animals; my dog especially knows when were hurting emotionally or physically and she comes to snuggle with us she tries to make us feel better in any way she can
theyre a very important part of our family and we try to take care of them as much as possible but we want to do it at a low cost she said going to the vet is very expensive so this opportunity saved us a lot and we can redistribute that income toward things other than that dreaded vet bill
moses plans to return for future pet health fairs and to other collaborations between reach and the vmbs
its honestly amazing to see how many people were helping bender said as ive been in contact with our essential aggies they are all just so grateful that were doing this for them seeing this unfold as something that i created is just incredible and honestly really hard to put into words
finding fulfillment in community service was something bender first experienced in high school while participating in summer mission trips for her church
we went to crossville tennessee every summer to serve the underprivileged and put on a vacation bible school-type event for the children she said being able to interact with those kids and see how much they loved what we did for them was honestly more fulfilling than probably anything else i could ever do
besides helping others veterinary medicine is one of her other greatest passions in life
ive always wanted to be a vet literally since before i can remember thats all ive ever wanted to do she said through high school all of my opportunities shadowing veterinarians and working at vet clinics i have not changed my mind
while the world-renowned vmbs was benders main motivation for attending texas a&m she was also attracted to the universitys focus on selfless service
its amazing because there are just so many opportunities for students to get involved in the community she said
bender is already planning for a future that combines her loves for veterinary medicine and community service she envisions a career in which she can use her skills in small animal medicine to support local animal shelters and community members in need
for the vmbs the pet health fair not only provides a way to give back to the community but it also gives veterinary students a chance to practice everyday skills like performing exams giving vaccines and running diagnostic tests under faculty supervision
i chose to participate because i love meeting different pet owners and through conversing with them coming to appreciate their unique human-animal bond said fourth-year veterinary student rachael barton who volunteered at the health fair as a third-year
while some aspects of preventative care may be intuitive for us vet students we should never assume that owners know and understand what prevention their pet needs she said thats an area where we as veterinary students can help through outreach events such as this one we can make preventative care much more accessible for our community
during the event second- and third-year veterinary students greet clients take their pets histories determine if any specific health issues needed to be addressed and then bring the animals inside; they then worked with a fourth-year veterinary student to do a full physical exam and administer vaccines
the pet health fair was a great opportunity for me to practice both my soft communication skills and my clinical skills such as drawing blood and giving vaccinations barton said some of the fourth-year veterinary students gave me some great physical exam tips
that students work together practicing peer-to-peer education across different classes was another of the unique educational aspects of the event
our fourth-year students were educating our third- and second-year students about what they were doing (during the pets physical exams) so it was an opportunity not only for them to provide service to their community but also to learn from each other in the process which is how veterinary medicine often works said dr karen cornell vmbs associate dean for professional programs
veterinarians are a huge part of any community theyre withintheyre respected members and leaders cornell said its so important that we maintain that and really own that responsibility and accountability we want to train our students that that is part of who you are as a veterinarian
the idea for the reach project first began when gerall who went on to become reachs founder and executive director met melissa martinez an on-campus dining hall cashier as a freshman
it all started because of a really close relationship with mrs melissa a front desk cashier at sbisa dining hall we got so close that she became my ‘on-campus mom gerall said shes a beautiful person who really opened my eyes to the invisible yet essential part of our community thats all around us here on the a&m campus
as i met with and talked to more and more of these employees i came to realize that i now have friends who are living in parallel universes; that knowledge changed the trajectory of my life he said among my newest invisible friends there were homeless employees families living in cheap motels sick employees without access to affordable healthcare and hundreds more dependent on neighbors for transportation to work
after graduating with a bachelors degree in communication he decided to dedicate his career to giving back to those workers who spend each day supporting the university since then he has gone on to meet and develop relationships with the 700 essential aggies reach supports
being a land grant institution texas a&m has access to vast intellectual and physical resources so that when combined with an incredibly passionate student body the sky truly is the limit gerall said for the vet school and their students to come together and support some of the most vulnerable members of our campus community speaks volumes about who they are and what they stand for and we are honored to have this partnership
reach and the vmbs plan to continue holding the pet health fairs each semester
the reach project is such a great program and we are constantly looking as all aggies are for selfless service opportunities cornell said this was just a logical connection for us to be able to provide veterinary care to those folks pets its an amazing group of people that were serving a very deserving group of people and we want to make sure that we provide them with equivalent service to what they provide us with every day
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr albert mulenga a professor in the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) has found the research that makes him tickticks and tick-borne diseases
because these parasites pose a global threat to human animal and environmental health mulenga has taken a one health approach to his research as a result his work has the potential to not only assist in the eradication of diseases that threaten human healthsuch as lyme disease rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemiabut also the ticks that pose a major risk to our nations food supply and economic stability through transmission of disease pathogens to livestock such as cattle
mulengas lab primarily focuses on understanding how ticks feed as a means through which anti-tick vaccine targets can be discovered in hopes of ultimately developing a vaccine that prevents both the feeding and the transmission of disease agents by ticks
this is possible because when a host is bitten by a tick the tick injects multiple proteins and other molecules secreted through its saliva into the host those proteins numb the pain of puncture which leaves the host unaware of the ticks presence prevents blood from clotting suppresses host immune defenses and allows transmitted tick-borne pathogens to colonize or establish in the host
in collaboration with dr john yates iii a chemist at the scripps research institute and dr itabajara da silva vaz jr a professor at brazils federal university of rio grande do sul mulengas lab has mapped secretion patterns of the proteins present in the saliva of blacklegged and lone star ticks which transmit the majority of human tick-borne disease agents in the us; cattle fever ticks which are important to livestock production worldwide; and asian longhorned ticks a recent invasive species in the us
if we understand these molecules and how they facilitate tick feeding we can block the functions of these proteases (an enzyme that breaks down proteins) and protease inhibitors (molecules that block the function of proteases) as targets for a vaccine he said if we immunize the host when the tick tries to feed it will not be able to
the beauty is that most tick-borne disease agents are not immediately transmitted when the tick starts to bite; it requires a little bit of time on the animal or human for the disease agent to be transmitted he said during that period when the tick is preparing to feed the antibody taught to the body by the vaccine can actually work; if the immune system rejects the tick it will not be able to transmit and as a consequence we are protecting against infection
if ticks are unable to feed on a vaccinated population they will eventually die off mulenga said their disappearance has no negative effect on the ecosystem as they do not occupy any unique ecological function
born and raised in zambia mulenga was driven to find explanations for the world around him and solve problems from an early age
when i was in about ninth grade i wanted to be a mathematician he said then in 12th grade i had this very great chemistry teacher who changed my mind i got excited by biology and chemistry and how we can use these two things to actually explain nature
after passing the university entrance exam he was selected to attend the university of zambia where he studied physical sciences before transitioning into their veterinary program which had been established only two years earlier
in 1990 mulenga graduated with his bachelor of veterinary medicine degree and worked as an extension veterinarian it was here that he first encountered ticks and tick-borne diseases and learned how both have major impacts on animal and human health as well as on the food supply and economy on a global scale
in zambia these are major hazards if youre working in livestock production he said theyre critical when i was working as an extension veterinarian most of the cases we dealt with were ticks and tick-borne diseases
he returned to the university of zambia as a staff development fellow which launched an educational journey that would take him around the world first to the university of liverpool england where he earned a masters degree in veterinary science with a concentration in parasitology and then to japans hokkaido university where he earned his phd in disease control with a focus in vaccine development
at hokkaido his experiences converged when he was selected to lead a project on making vaccines against ticks
we were very successful a substantial portion of my dissertation was patented in japan he said from that i got a postdoctoral fellowship from the japanese society for the promotion of science which supported me for two years
in 2001 mulenga headed stateside to the university of maryland college of medicine in baltimore for another postdoctoral position and then in 2005 he was recruited to join the entomology faculty at texas a&m where he researched tick feeding physiology for nine years
in 2014 mulenga relocated to the vmbs to continue his research
because ticks can infect a wide range of hosts mulenga is working toward a multi-species prevention effort to control their spread
in one project working with dr tammi johnson at the texas a&m agrilife center at uvalde mulenga is working on the immunization of whitetail deer because these deer pose a potential risk to human and animal health the project is funded by the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc)
we are going to test if immunization of whitetail deer actually will prevent ticks from feeding he said whitetail deer are the principal blood meal source for amblyomma americanum and for ixodes scapularis ixodes scapularis or the blacklegged tick is a principal vector of lyme disease
in another project with the national institutes of health (nih) mulenga is investigating how borrelia bacteria the pathogens responsible for lyme disease influence the tick to promote disease agent transmission his lab has identified a number of proteins that are secreted during feeding by an infected tick and is currently trying to narrow down their list of proteins to determine which are the most important during this process
once mulenga has identified the most vital proteins associated with the feeding of borrelia-infected ticks he can begin to develop a vaccine that will train the body to recognize and attack these proteins
in addition for a kleberg foundation-funded project with colleagues at the university of queretaro in mexico the university of san antonio and the united states department of agriculture (usda) mulenga is working to produce recombinant antigens to protect cattle against feeding of cattle fever ticks and transmission of cattle babesia parasites
in a related project mulenga and dr mwangi waithaka a professor at kansas state university have been funded by the usdas national institute of food and agriculture (nifa) to understand the immunological basis of immunity against tick feeding in repeatedly infected cattle he hopes to use findings from this project to better formulate anti-tick vaccines
in the us cattle fever ticks have been controlled for more than 50 years now but the threat is still there because these ticks are very prevalent in mexico due to the high trade volume between mexico and the us there is a risk of these ticks coming back through traded cattle he said thats why even though cattle fever ticks are currently controlled on a domestic scale were trying to see if we can find some targets that we can use to make a vaccine
for all of these scholarly endeavors mulenga was awarded the texas a&m presidential impact fellow award in 2018
although mulenga now describes teaching and guiding young scientists as one of his favorite aspects of his position he did not foresee a calling in teaching when he began his career
i can remember the morning of oct 2 1984 when i left for the university of zambia he said at that time my grandma said ‘go on and become a great teacher i never imagined that i was going to be a teacher; my interest was to go and become a practicing veterinarian being a teacher just came to mei dont know how but my grandma predicted it
in the tightly woven global community of ticks and tick-borne disease researchers mulenga has not only been able to collaborate with scientists hes known since graduate school but he is also excited to work on a project with a former student who now as a colleague and faculty member at the university of south alabama will investigate an invasive tick species from asia that has found its way to the us
i planted the seed when she was an undergrad here and shes now a researcher he said when a student is very curious and they have a lot of energy it is very exciting to see that my energy transformed somebodys life
mulengas career also has been one of transformationin the students he teaches in the therapeutics he develops and in the one health approach he encourages for tick management to protect the food chain and human health to make a safer world for us all
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
baxter a 12-year-old seal point birman cat tends to draw eyes wherever he goes
he is such a pretty cat said baxters owner erin young he just prances around looking beautiful and knowing that hes so beautiful hes a joy for our family and hes a very special cat to say the least
young and her husband william fell in love with the birman breed when their first cat together another seal point named sockswho passed away in 2008joined their family
we wanted to get another male seal point birman because we loved socks so much young said we were moving to london later that year and decided to wait until we got there to look for a birman they were kind of hard to find but we finally found a breeder with a litter of five kittensfour of whom were female chocolate pointsand one was the male seal point id been searching for for such a long time
baxter quickly established his place as the boss of the house which included the youngs three children and two small terrier dogs
the youngs extreme love for baxter and his important role in their family made it all the more frightening when he suddenly became severely ill in december 2020
we were at our vacation house at lake athens when one day he started acting weird and foaming at the mouth young said he looked terrible so i rushed into the vet in athens they thought he had a urinary blockage but he just kept getting worse and worse
wanting to get baxter a diagnosis as soon as possible young brought him to the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) where he had previously been treated for liver disease
upon arrival baxter was checked in to the intensive care unit (icu) and his veterinary team began running tests his doctors found three major issues: asthma inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) and pancreatitis
thankfully the pancreatitis was resolved during baxters stay at the sath and his chronic issues of asthma and ibd could be managed at home with a specialized diet and some environmental changes
but during one of baxters rechecks with his veterinarian in dallas the pathologist running his blood test noticed something abnormal which led to a surprising diagnosis when his blood test was rechecked at texas a&m
the clinical pathologist looking at a blood smear from baxters bloodwork found that his red blood cells were agglutinating (clumping together) at room temperature but they did not agglutinate when at his normal warmer body temperature said dr leigh ann howard a third-year internal medicine resident at the sath and the primary veterinarian on baxters case this is consistent with cold agglutinin disease (cad) a rare autoimmune blood disorder
with cad antibodies that attack red blood cells have enhanced activity at temperatures of less than 99° f although the disease was first reported in cats in 1983 it has been very rarely diagnosed
generally agglutination can cause serious anemia leaving a patient without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body because baxters cells only clump together at temperatures cooler than his body temperature which is normally between 1005 and 1025° f he is unlikely to experience any consequences of cad
however there is still a chance of danger if baxter were exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time
cold temperatures can cause agglutination in the small blood vessels in his extremities including his ear tips tail tip and nose howard said this can cause the skin of those areas to become necrotic and shed off
we hope that as long as baxter remains indoors in a comfortable temperature and does not experience hypothermia he should not have problems with his blood agglutinating she said
considering how devoted baxters family is to him his veterinarians are confident they will keep him warm and cozy for the rest of his life
baxter is a very sweet and handsome guy he is also the first cad patient that i or any of our medicine team from what i gather have ever seen howard said it is a rare diagnosis but because it does not cause clinical disease in most cases it might fly under the radar and healthy cats may have cad that is never diagnosed
while the cause of baxters cad may never be known howard believes it could be related to genetics or an underlying condition
for now we will monitor baxter for signs of illness and perform periodic bloodwork to monitor for the development of anemia and/or severely elevated globulins which are proteins that form the antibodies that are causing the agglutination in cold temperatures howard said
baxter will be getting rechecks and bloodwork to monitor his cad and other chronic conditions every three months alternating between texas a&m and his primary veterinarian dr stephanie chritton 87 at hillside veterinary clinic
dr chritton really goes above and beyond young said she has been such a great advocate for baxter and a great liaison between hillside and texas a&m shes a phenomenal vet
in the meantime baxter is now back to normal and living without any consequences of his cad
we are very grateful that his veterinarians at texas a&m figured it out young said texas a&m also saved one of our little dogs who had a very rare disease he was so sick even dying but no one could figure it out then i took him to texas a&m and they diagnosed him in a day
after that i decided that if i ever have a very ill animal the pets going straight to texas a&m i dont know if baxters outcome wouldve been the same if we had gone somewhere else
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
researchers found that the mothers placenta is healthier if the father has limited or no alcohol consumption during conception
a fathers alcohol consumption may affect the mothers placenta and in turn the unborn child according to a new study from texas a&m universitys school of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences (vmbs)
published aug 11 in frontiers in cell and developmental biology paternal alcohol exposures program intergenerational hormetic effects on offspring fetoplacental growth builds on dr michael goldings research into whether a fathers alcohol consumption can have repercussions on the pregnancy process or the childs development of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (fasd)
this latest study analyzes the mothers placenta a transient organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to the unborn infant the placenta also removes the childs waste products through the umbilical cord once the pregnancy ends the womans body expels the placenta
the texas a&m researchers analysis identified many abnormal epigenetic tags in the sperm of alcohol-exposed males as well as differences in the mothers placenta
what weve shown is a nice correlation between abnormalities in the sperm and abnormalities in the placenta said golding an associate professor in the vmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) we cant see differences in the embryo but we can see them in the placenta that suggests that what were studying here is being transmitted from the dad down into the placentaand it has a very real effect on the placentas blood flow hormone production and functioning
the study found that the mothers placenta is healthier if the father has limited or no alcohol consumption during conceptionbut there are significant consequences if the father drinks the equivalent of two to four glasses of wine or four bottles of beer a day
at the higher doses of alcohol you see the histological destruction where the placentas tissue is just not formed correctly and there are a lot of abnormalities golding said
ultimately this study suggests that the males alcohol consumption should be discussed as part of the pregnancy journey
when a couple is considering getting pregnant the focus is on what the woman should doand theres no consideration of the males health on any dimension golding said theres actually much more information coming from males than simply dna theres a whole host of molecules and memories being imparted from the father that influence fetal health and pregnancy success this is something that doctors need to start contemplating when theyre advising their patients
the study also was co-authored by texas a&m students kara thomas katherine zimmel alison basel alexis roach nicole mehta kelly thomas luke dodson and yudhishtar bedi
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
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gunnin4chicks boasts an enviable record in reining competitions including winning and placing in the sports most prestigious events for over a decade yet his career performing in this very physically demanding western riding competition was nearly derailed before it ever started
as a 2-month-old foal the quarter horse colt suffered a devastating injurya complete displaced fracture of his left humerus
fortunately owner mark bradford found the only veterinarians in the world with the expertise to have successfully treated this injury in multiple foalsdr jeffrey watkins and dr kati glass of texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) large animal teaching hospital (lath) the lath team successfully repaired gunnin4chicks fractured humerus inserting a specialized medical implant that watkins had developed specifically to treat this type of equine injury
now at an age when his counterparts are enjoying retirement the 13-year-old stallion is still competing at an elite level he recently participated in the run for a million reining competition aug 17-20 in las vegas
bradford credits laths team with making gunnin4chicks remarkable and lengthy career possible
i couldnt recommend dr watkins dr glass and their team any higher the owner said that surgery gave my horse the opportunity to be the best he could be
no one knows how gunnin4chicks fractured his humerus in 2009 but it was immediately evident that the horse could not put weight on his left leg while many fractures of this type in other bones can be repaired with plates and screws the humerus does not lend itself to similar techniques
bradford immediate took the foal to his veterinarian a dallas-area equine orthopedic surgeon after concluding the examination bradford clearly remembered the verdict: my veterinarian said dr watkins was the only guy who could fix it
fortunately the injury that gunnin4chicks suffered was exactly the type of medical problem that watkins has focused his career on solving years earlier the texas a&m veterinarian had met biomedical engineer rich ashman when both were working on a project at texas scottish rite hospital for children
at that time and even today many foals suffering a fractured humerus are humanely euthanized watkins said although interlocking nails were becoming state-of-the-art for repairing fractures in people human interlocking nails weret suitable for horses because the dimensions were different they werent strong enough and they required specialized equipment that wasnt readily available to most veterinary surgeons at the time
watkins and ashman teamed up to find the elusive solution together watkins and ashman developed an interlocking nail that could be placed inside the horses humerus and secured with screws this medical device holds the bone in position allowing it to heal
the bone has the capacity to completely regenerate and be as strong or stronger than it was watkins explained
watkins began to use this device to repair humerus fractures in foalsand found over time that the procedure had an 80% success rate and has even been used to treat a polar bear watkins hopes to someday make this device and the surgical procedure readily available to veterinary surgeons worldwide
within days after the operation gunnin4chicks was putting weight on the left leg
he could bear his full weight while healing the fracture watkins said adding that the horse soon was moving without any difficulty
the horse also left texas a&m with something else important beyond his mobility
he was 6 weeks old when texas a&ms team came up with his name gunnin4chicks bradford remembered noting that the horses parents were colonels smoking gun and dun it by chick
a few years later bradford decided to enter gunnin4chicks in reining eventsand soon learned that he had a superstar little horse the distinctive horse with a white face and blue eyes won the first show he competed in and has consistently won or placed ever since his lifetime earnings are around $80 000
while bradford has limited the number of competitions as the horse has aged gunnin4chicks still is passionate about reining
he loves the show pen and likes competing the owner said adding that most horses reining careers end when they are age 6 he wants a job and wants to work hes such a happy horse and he gives you more than you want hes a sweet horse with a heart like a lion
pleased to see gunnin4chicks still performing at a high level watkins said the stallion serves as an important example of what is possible with the proper surgical care
its gratifying that this horse went on and had an illustrious career after we fixed the fracture the texas a&m veterinarian said theres a misconception about what happens to a horse who breaks a leg but thats an outdated story there are surgical options for these horses and in many cases their career as a performance horse be salvaged
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
since its inception one of the key selling points at the texas a&m higher education center in mcallen has been that students will have the same opportunities they have in college station
this also has been true for the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) biomedical sciences (bims) program at the higher education center
in addition to ensuring that the vmbs bims students in mcallen receive the same quality education and live by texas a&ms core values the vmbs has continued to emphasize to bims students in mcallen the importance of undergraduate research and the impact their research can have in fulfilling the needs of their community
this is something well-tested in the vmbs; the bims undergraduate research program has grown to be not only the largest of its kind across the country but has been adopted across the texas a&m campus
as a result research has become a crucial part of many students undergraduate experience in college station and now in mcallen according to dr negin mirhosseini a bims instructional assistant professor at the higher education center
it is such a big deal and often its the students who are pushing for it she said i receive emails i get questions during lectures and ive even had prospective students who are considering this campus ask what kind of research were doing
these days when many students are looking at a university its something thats important to them mirhosseini said they want to do the science and not just the theoretical part of it they want to experience how it feels to do actual work and generate actual data
research like anything at the mcallen campus has had to start from scratch and several obstacles had to be overcome before students could begin
for example since mirhosseini is an instructional professor she doesnt have her own active laboratory space which is a requirement for texas a&ms launch undergraduate research program so she partnered with faculty in college station who do have active labs to support her students
student research here doesnt have to be the same as what the professor in college station is working on; we just have to have the support of an active lab she said that was really just the start
between the program just getting off the ground and the limits on in-person instruction because of covid-19 it was a challenging first year for their research efforts but charles lee a recent bims graduate said they were still able to have impactful experiences
the research community is definitely growing down here in mcallen lee said and its definitely persevering given our circumstances with the pandemic and some logistical challenges with not having access to a lot of high-powered research equipment and labs its been challenging but our professors have been really good about trying to find ways to engage students with those kinds of experiences
even though lee a mcallen native didnt have a direct connection to texas a&m hes wanted to be an aggie since he was 9 years old he heard about the new mcallen campus on the news and ultimately chose it because it allowed him to attend his dream school but still be able to take care of his horses at home
hanging around with all of the 4-h kids growing up and hearing them all talk about a&m i became excited about a&m early on and never wanted to go anywhere else lee said my parents actually made me apply somewhere else just in case it didnt work out with a&m but if it would have been up to me i only would have applied to a&m
his research has been related to the covid-19 pandemic; mirhosseini challenged her students to design an antiviral for covid-19 and through reviewing literature and modeling lee designed different molecules that could be used for antiviral development
when the campus was able to host an undergraduate research conference lee presented his work and said the whole experience gave him more insight into the pandemic
for me research brings a lot more insight into what youre studying and whats really happening lee said its one thing to learn and just pass the class because you want to but for me i have a drive to figure out why things happen the way they do it really gives me a much deeper understanding of the world thats really the big reason why i jumped into doing undergraduate research
even though its unlikely that an undergraduate research project will receive funding or even that the student will continue with it after graduation research can still have a big impact on students lee said just being involved with his project has already possibly changed his career path after he graduates next year
walking into college i was like ‘im just going to medical school; im going to be a surgeon and thats it he said but interacting with dr mirhosseini and doing a few undergraduate research projects have skewed my thinking from doing just straight medical school to now doing an md-phd program so thats the ultimate dream goal now i havent decided whether i want to do a blend of surgery and research or just do research solely but i for sure would like to eventually go on and do research as part of my career
lee said all of that is a credit to mirhosseini who actively encourages students to get more involved in research
i know how modest dr mirhosseini is but shes been the driving factor behind growing these opportunities he said one of my goals in coming to a&m was to do undergraduate research but i knew i might be giving that up by coming to the mcallen campus
i asked her if she would be interested (in supporting lees desire to conduct research) and she said ‘absolutely were going to do this; this is texas a&mwe can make anything happen lee said she got everything set up and this year im going to be able to do the thesis program here in mcallen thanks to her
mirhosseinis path to mcallen has a few more twists than lees but the short version is a classic story of being in the right place at the right time
originally from kerman iran where she attended the veterinary college at the university of kerman as an undergraduate she attended the vmbs in college station for her graduate work and received her masters degree in veterinary microbiology in 2008 and then a phd in 2011
afterward she moved to the university of oklahoma and then to have a more flexible schedule and take care of her new family she started at oklahoma city community college
eventually she moved with her husband to the rio grande valley and was teaching at the university of texas rio grande valley and south texas college when through the now-retired dr susan payne she heard that the vmbs was bringing the bims program to mcallen
it was like ‘oh wow really seriously she said dr payne told her former colleagues in the bims program that she had a former student in the area who would be a good fit if they were looking for a microbiologist i interviewed for the job and i got it it was just really lucky it was the right time and the right moment to be here
now that theyve gotten a research program off the ground mirhosseini and others at the mcallen campus are trying to figure out how to continue growing the program
one of their hurdles is simply spacethe higher education center has a microbiology lab that can be used for both teaching and research but thats just one space
weve gotten a lot of support mirhosseini said dr christopher quick (aggie research scholars program founder) and dr michael criscitiello (vmbs associate dean for research & graduate studies) are trying to expand the program but its like renting a house while building a house were starting something and we want to do it successfully so that we can attract more people more money and more facilities
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note: this story originally appeared in the summer 2022 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
one of the primary research areas for the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) veterinary research education and outreach (vero) program is trying to solve the complex problem of bovine respiratory disease (brd)
though research has been ongoing for decades brd still accounts for more than half of all feedlot deaths and remains one of the single largest economic impacts to the beef cattle industry with some estimates that brd costs the industry more than a billion dollars annually
in an effort to better understand this complex problem vmbs assistant professor dr robert valeris-chacin wants to go back to the basics of understanding how exactly the disease manifests he was recently awarded a $100 000 grant through texas a&m agrilife research from the usda-nifa animal health and disease research capacity program to develop a new diagnostic tool for identifying specific strains of one of the common brd-associated pathogens mycoplasma bovis
one of the primary reasons brd is a difficult problem to solve is that it isnt caused by any one specific virus or bacteria but instead a number of different combinations of pathogens; the exact roles those pathogens play and how they interact with one another to cause brd is still mostly a mystery
thats why valeris-chacin is trying to lay the groundwork for a more thorough understanding of those roles and hes starting specifically with m bovis a bacterium commonly found and associated with brd
according to valeris-chacin m bovis research lags behind some of the other brd-associated pathogens for a couple of reasons
one is that mycoplasmas are relatively hard to culture in a lab mycoplasmas require a significant amount of nutrients and other bacteria will often outcompete mycoplasmas for those nutrients as a result many scientists have chosen to work on the pathogens that are easier to culture
another reason is that when infected animals are sampled there is usually a very small amount of m bovis in the sample with current techniques this means that its practically impossible to gather genetic information of m bovis beyond whether the bacterium is present in the sample
are there different strains of m bovis present do they have differences in how they cause damage or how pathogenic they are those are questions that we just dont have the answers to right now he said current tests can tell us if the m bovis is present but not a specific strain or if there are multiple strains
valeris-chacins goal with this grant is to create a diagnostic tool that can identify the different strains of m bovis present in a sample; to solve the problem of the scarcity of the bacteria he will be modifying a process called target enrichment that has worked for other pathogens
using this technique we can concentrate the dna of the m bovis and then hopefully that will give us enough information to do strain-level detection he said doing that would open the door for a lot of information that we just dont have right now so were trying to develop a new technique that will give us that information
being able to identify specific strains and therefore better understand their roles in the different stages of brd would be an important step toward a long-term goal of this field the ability to better track and ultimately predict the spread of brd
in the future we might be able to go into a feedlot thats early on in a brd issue sample those animals detect problematic strains and begin treatment to minimize the effects before most of the animals are even showing symptoms he said
more precise treatment of brd ties into another major focus area of vero researchbetter use of antibiotics there is ongoing research into whether antibiotic use in livestock affects humans but beyond that treating herds of thousands of animals is expensive and brd treatment is one of the leading causes of antibiotic use in cattle
there is definitely a lot of interest in being able to use antibiotics to prevent or treat brd in only the animals that will benefit the most he said but to do that were going to need a lot of information we dont have right now
though this project focuses on a very specific aspect of brd valeris-chacin hopes that the groundwork he lays with m bovis can be translated to other pathogens and ultimately lead to new approaches in brd research
we need to keep studying these bacteria behind brd because the knowledge we have is incomplete he said the greatest proof of that is the number of animals that get sick hasnt declined we have treatments and some prevention measures but theyre insufficient this strain-level data is missing in all of the brd pathogens but particularly in m bovis
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
akhil marupudi a sophomore biomedical sciences major at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences was one of 13 students across the united states selected to participate in the university of texas md anderson cancer centers 2022 summer undergraduate research program (surp)
surp is a 10-week program that offers hands-on experience in biomedical translational or clinical research each of the student participants is matched with a mentor from md andersons research or clinical faculty and spends the summer working in their lab observing clinical duties attending workshops and networking
marupudi was the only student accepted to the program from texas a&m the 2022 surp received 586 student applications with only 22% selected to participate
as one of a generation of students who lost nearly two years of in-person opportunities because of covid-19 marupudi found surp to be especially helpful in getting practical experience in high-end wet lab (a laboratory where drugs chemicals and types of biological matter can be analyzed and tested using various liquids) settings
surp really influenced me to look into research more as a career he said before i was looking into more clinical medicine but now i feel like i can pursue both the research and clinical aspects of it that way i can eventually open my own lab and see patients at the same time which is what my mentor does here (at md anderson)
marupudis research this summer has focused on discovering new therapeutic agents and drugs for acute myeloid leukemia (aml) a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrowas well as learning how inhibiting certain genes affects the cancer
by a matter of fate this project was closely related to one of the reasons marupudi decided at a young age to pursue a career in medicine
when i was around 8 or 9 years old my grandfather passed away from acute myeloid leukemia he had a very rare type of aml the worst type of leukemia to have he said its really interesting because there are so many different mutations in leukemia and somehow the project that i started working on was the exact type of aml and the same mutation that he passed away from
marupudis interest in medicine continued to grow as he did he attended a stem magnet high school in houston and had the opportunity to work on research projects concerning spinal cord injury and neuro-oncology as well as some that extended past healthcare
when it came time to attend college he knew that texas a&ms biomedical sciences program would be a great way to prepare for medical school and a career in research
a&m is a tier-one research institution you can find research in any field and it doesnt matter what major you are he said after i visited i felt like the school was really a good fit for me because the people here are super friendly there is a lot of pressure in college and finding the right people is definitely important at a&m everyones super open-minded and fun and the professors are really there to help you
after finishing his bachelors degree marupudi is planning to apply to medical school and potentially a md/phd program or research fellowship during that time he also plans to narrow down his focus area and set a path for his career
im interested in clinical oncology surgical oncology and leukemia research but also in radiology primary care and orthopedics he said
for now marupudi looks forward to continuing his md anderson research remotely as he works on different publications regarding the lab work he did during the summer surp also allowed him to present his work at the end-of-program conference on aug 11 during which he received first place in the abstract competition and second place in the poster exhibition
this december he hopes to present his research again at the american society of hematology (ash) conference in new orleans
surp opens up so many doors for meeting people and making connections with leaders in the field he said you get to meet people from all over the country and its a lot of exposure to the research worldnot just on a texas scale but on a global scale
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a treatment for a rare disease that was researched and developed in the laboratory of texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) associate professor scott dindot has not only produced encouraging interim data from a phase 1/2 clinical trial in the united states united kingdom and canada but has become the subject of a $75 million acquisition by ultragenyx pharmaceutical inc which will continue to develop the treatment
in an update last month ultragenyx announced that gtx-102 the drug originating in dindots lab had demonstrated meaningful improvement in pediatric patients afflicted with a genetic disorder called angelman syndrome (as) and that the company is expanding patient enrollment in its ongoing phase 1/2 study of the drug
as is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 15 000 live births per year; the disorder is caused by a loss of function of the ube3a gene which leads to developmental delay speech impairment movement or balance disorder and seizures
currently there is no cure for as available treatments for the disorder focus solely on behavioral therapy and controlling the symptoms specifically the seizures that often affect patients with as
however researchers have reported improvements in measurements of disease severity and quality of life for as patients in the phase 1/2 study of gtx-102 leading ultragenyx to believe that the novel targeted therapeutic could be a promising treatment for the disorder
this groundbreaking work not only highlights the strong science being conducted in our school but also demonstrates how researchers in the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences are finding novel solutions to real-world problems that can improve the lives of both animals and human beings said dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m
in developing the drug dindot and his texas a&m research team identified a region on the ube3a antisense (ube3a-as) transcript which regulates the expression of the paternally inherited allele of the ube3a gene the drugan antisense oligonucleotide (aso)inhibits ube3a-as and reactivates expression of the paternal ube3a allele restoring ube3a protein in the brain
we targeted a very specific region on the ube3a-as transcript that we believe is important for regulating its expression said dindot who also is a texas a&m university system chancellors enhancing development and generating excellence in scholarship (edges) fellow in theory this treatment goes after the heart of the condition
in natural conditions only the copy of ube3a inherited from the mother is expressed in the brain individuals living with as have a mutation or deletion in the maternal copy of the gene and thus they lack the ube3a protein in the brain
dindots drug the first molecular therapeutic for as to advance into clinical development works by reactivating the paternal copy of ube3a so it can compensate for the loss of function in the maternal copy
after the initial discovery which was supported by funding from the foundation for angelman syndrome therapeutics (fast) dindot continued the research and development of the drug in collaboration with the newly formed biotech company genetx biotherapeutics llc (genetx) and later ultragenyx which conducted investigational-new-drug-enabling studies on the therapeutic as it moved into clinical trials in the us uk and canada
that the drug made it to a clinical trial is an enormous milestone and now it is just amazing to hear the interim data suggesting that kids conditions are improving in multiple areas dindot said over the past decade there have been probably over a dozen people who have worked on this in my labundergraduate and graduate students and scientistsand i really want to recognize them for the hard work they put into the research and development of this drug; it takes a lot of people to do this and im proud of what we have accomplished together
with the acquisition of genetx by ultragenyx ultragenyx will now take the lead on advancing gtx-102 into late-stage development for as by testing the effectiveness of the therapeutic at higher monthly doses
this is a really great example of the successful commercialization of a technology from the research stage to the clinical development of a promising therapeutic with a company said janie hurley program director at texas a&m agrilife research intellectual property & commercialization who oversees the development of commercialization and intellectual property protection strategies for technologies created by researchers affiliated with texas a&m agrilife and the svmbs we strive to ensure that new discoveries such as this one have the best chance possible to reach those in society who could benefit working with companies like genetx and ultragenyx is how we accomplish this goal
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is joining six other texas a&m university colleges that will be designated as schools beginning sept 1
the change to school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) reflects recommendations approved by president m katherine banks in the path forward banks strategic plan that provides guidance for carrying out the universitys mission and vision
in addition the biomedical sciences undergraduate program currently housed in vmbs will be joining the newly formed college of arts and sciences which is being formed by the merging of the colleges of geosciences science and liberal arts
as the school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences we will continue to focus on fulfilling our responsibilities to the citizens of texas in support of texas a&m universitys land-grant mission said dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m this includes building on our model of success with respect to educating veterinarians who will go on to fulfill a critical nationwide need for veterinary practitioners; conducting groundbreaking highly impactful research that benefits both animals and human beings; and serving texans across the state through our patient care and outreach efforts
vmbs began initiating the process of transitioning to its new brand identities this summer in preparation for the sept 1 effective date allowing students to be welcomed into their new academic home prior to the start of the fall semester students who graduate in august will do so under their current academic designations
the path forward outlines how the merger allows the college of arts and sciences to better align with most of texas a&ms peer institutions12 of 19 use this model this larger college structure creates a stronger advocacy for liberal arts education at a stem-focused university according to the mgt report which informed the path forward
the realignment allows for four areas of focus: college of arts and sciences college of engineering college agriculture and life sciences and texas a&m health
other current colleges that will be designated as schools to better reflect their unique applied missions include the school of architecture school of dentistry school of education & human development school of medicine school of nursing and irma lerma rangel school of pharmacy
texas a&ms other schools and departments include the newly formed school of performance visualization & fine arts as well as the existing mays business school school of engineering medicine bush school of government & public service school of law and school of public health
these organizational changes were approved by banks in december along with more than 40 other recommendations each initiative had its own working groupcommittees made up of faculty staff and studentsto determine how to best implement the changes
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
new research from the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) is the first to provide direct experimental evidence that people with down syndrome (ds) may not heal from bone fractures
the recently published study led by kirby sherman a phd candidate in the vmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) not only illuminates a previously unknown issue but also highlights a need for doctors to better address the issue of fracture healing in people with ds
ds the most common birth defect in the united states alters human development and leads to a variety of clinical issues which have included mental impairment joint laxity heart defects sleep apnea and infertility
previous research also had indicated that bone density in people with ds is lower which increases the likelihood of bone fracture scientists previously believed that the healing response to fractures would be different in people with ds but to discover that fractures in ds would not heal was incredible sherman said
scientists have been studying fractures for a long time in a lot of different species and while healing might be slow in some cases the vast majority of fractures do eventually heal in all species sherman said in our research the fractures didnt heal at all
when bones heal a soft callous made of cartilage a sort of glue will form on the bones and then connect the fractured ends back together; we call this bridging said sherman in down syndrome models the glue starts to form but its never able to bridge
this is alarming the researchers assert because a fracture not fully healing can have devastating health impacts which is compounded for those with ds because of their pronounced bone density loss
based on this the risk of fractures is a major health concern for the down syndrome community sherman said
a fracture not healing properly what we call a non-union can kill people whether they have down syndrome or not said dr larry suva vtpp department head if this population really has a higher rate of non-union than the normal population thats a big deal
according to suva and sherman there are two primary reasons this issue has gone undetected until now; the first is that those with ds are living much longer than they used to
according to the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) in 1960 people with ds had a life expectancy of just 10 years by 2007 as more was learned and applied to offset the endocrine impacts of ds the life expectancy increased to 47 years
weve known that bone mass is lower in this population and the increased life expectancy of this population has allowed researchers to better understand the long-term implications of their lower bone mass said suva today there are people with ds in their 20s and 30s who have bone mass and bone architecture consistent with someone in their 60s theyre active members of the community and theyre playing sports obviously thats great but if theyre at increased risk of bone fractures that wont heal its also a concern
the second reason this issue stayed undetected for so long is that specialized care for people with ds has not been a consideration by doctors and hospitals which means that there wasnt data readily available to identify this issue
theres not a medical code that identifies people with down syndrome so researchers have not had any kind of database they could use to gather statistics that support this kind of research said suva down syndrome support groups and family members dont want their loved ones or themselves singled out for having a disease after all theyre normal people
as a result even with all of the fractures that get recorded every day in the united states theres no way to identify which of those patients have down syndrome and therefore no organized way to track their healing suva said
the next steps in the research will involve trying to find that human data focusing on the actual mechanisms preventing the healing of the fractures since nobody knew this was a problem nobody was looking for solutions
in the meantime with this new awareness of the problem the researchers hope there will be more widespread adoption of measures to increase bone strength more careful monitoring when fractures do occur and that physicians and others will consider the bone health of people with ds
we want physicians to say to patients ‘youre 17 years old; you can keep playing soccer and being active said suva but we also want them making sure these patients diet and vitamin d levels are good to do all of these things that are suggested for skeletal health thats our goal
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university and arizona state university (asu) are collaborating on a $48 million multidisciplinary project funded by the defense advanced research projects agencys (darpa) biological technology office to create artificial intelligence (ai) for detecting fatigued states using human breath
the project aims to better understand sleep deprivation mental and physical fatigue in humans by measuring breath volatile organic compounds (voc) biomarkers and how they can affect performance especially in high-stakes environments
the team will use pattern recognition and statistical modeling to identify vocs that can detect and discriminate the types of fatigue studied during the course of the project said dr ivan ivanov clinical professor of physiology and pharmacology at the school of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences (vmbs)
in addition to ivanov the team will include principal investigator dr roozbeh jafari the tim and amy leach professor in texas a&ms college of engineering and drs ranjana mehta arul jayaraman steven riechman and heather bean
dr walter frank norvell 54 shares how he became a veterinarian marksman pilot and supporter of texas a&ms equine genomics research fund
dr walter frank norvell 54 cant talk to animals like dr dolittle but he certainly has a way with horses he has become a go-to veterinarian for top breeders and stables over the years with clients entrusting him with the care of promising horses with bloodlines that include competitors in elite events such as the kentucky derby
the ohio veterinarian credits his parents and texas a&m university with guiding his path to professional success in gratitude norvell and his wife joyce have established a planned gift through the texas a&m foundation that will help researchers study and improve future equine breeding and treatment options
the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) saw 505 animals including dogs cats rabbits and even two lambs during its recent participation in operation border health preparedness (obhp) in raymondville texas
obhp which was known as operation lone star in previous years is organized by the texas department of state health services and gives state and local groups a chance to practice setting up and operating the kind of health clinics that could be used in a disaster response situation while also providing services to the local community
for a second year the vet selected the raymondville site located at raymondville early college high school because of the lack of nearby veterinarians
this is an area where we can really make a difference even if were only here for one week said vet director dr wesley bissett it also gives us a chance to exercise the kind of operation we would have during a large-scale deployment like a hurricane response
nora flores who drove in for the clinic from nearby lyford with her dog boo said she was nervous at first but was reassured after talking with vet members on arrival she even brought two more animals later in the week
im always worried about how my dogs going to react but everyone was so good he went right with them she said im really appreciative that these services are being offered; its so great to make an appointment with the veterinarian in the next county over can take months im so thankful the team is here to provide this service
for residents like shawn stocks of weslaco the clinic was a way to know pets like her dog stella were getting high-quality care
this really helps its expensive to take care of these pets so i really appreciate the team doing this for us as a community and i hope other people appreciate it and are saying thank you as well; everyone has been so awesome she said
more than 75 team membersincluding texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (vmbs) veterinarians students and staff; volunteers; and texas a&m agrilife extension disaster assessment and recovery agentswere on site throughout the week
they were also joined by a veterinarian and veterinary technicians from texas a&m university-kingsville members of the lone star unmanned aerial systems center of excellence and innovation at texas a&m university-corpus christi a veterinary student from colorado state university and officers from the nebraska extension and the purdue extension
this has truly been a team effort all week long bissett said and those people werent just here to watch; we got them plugged into the team and they were working as hard as anyone else and staying here with us as part of the team hopefully this is an experience theyll take back with them to improve their own disaster response capabilities
a number of people and organizations make the teams involvement in obhp possible the banfield foundations donation of medical supplies were used throughout the week and the evacuation trailer the foundation donated last year was used to keep animals comfortable during extremely high temperatures and a thunderstorm during the week additionally funding from texas a&ms association of former students supported the involvement of the veterinary students
this event wouldnt be possible without supporters like the banfield foundation and the association of former students bissett said supporting our involvement in operation border health preparedness is really an investment in the state of texas we learn so much during this week especially since its right at the start of peak hurricane season that will help us when were called to respond to real disasters
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m superfund research center investigators have developed a novel green infrastructure plan to reduce stormwater runoff in houstons sunnyside community by uniquely combining the results of three separate landscape performance tools
green infrastructure (gi) is a network of interconnected green spaces that reduce the impact of flooding in urban areas in communities like sunnyside which has 14 facilities within a mile that release toxins into the air and water gi can also reduce the amount of contaminants in stormwater runoff
several tools have been created to measure the impact of gi flooding and runoff but by combining these tools in a way never done before superfund researchers were able to put together a plan that would not only reduce flooding immediately but also create a healthier and more sustainable community for years to come
sunnyside has a lot of vacant properties but it doesnt have a lot of money to build things like levies the idea was that we would use green infrastructure as a cheaper way to help combat a lot of the runoff and flooding issues said dr galen newman principal investigator of the superfund centers community engagement core
the longer gi stays in place the more effective it is over time he said we wanted to show sunnyside that if they invest a little up front it will pay for itself in the long run
newman who is also an associate professor in texas a&ms department of landscape architecture and urban planning worked with the non-profit organization charity productions to choose sunnyside as the project site
we really wanted to target underserved communities that have both flood issues and contamination issues newman said we did a lot of mapping of previous floods and the interesting thing about sunnyside is that even though its on the sims bayou most of what flooded was the ‘ponding or standing water areas
sunnyside which is one of houstons oldest historically black communities has been hit hard by many of the recent hurricanes that have struck along the gulf of mexico a 2019 survey found that one-third of the homes in sunnyside were damaged by recent storms and that poor drainage/flooding is the top problem according to community residents
sunnyside is also considered a fenceline community because it is immediately adjacent to an industrial center and is directly affected by the chemical emissions or other operations of the company
if a neighborhood is tangent to a lot of industrial contaminants and it gets flooded all of those contaminants wash into the community newman said some of the neighborhoods we work with that are in close proximity to these industries have pretty elevated cancer obesity and high-cholesterol rates if you could have specific areas to store and clean those flood waters youre not going to get as many public health issues from being exposed to that contamination in the long term
one of sunnysides largest health concerns is the prevalence of asthma especially when compared to the surrounding areas
the houston health department found that the percentage of residents with chronic asthma was more than twice as high in sunnyside as in the rest of harris county (the county containing houston) and that 143% of children in sunnyside have asthma compared to 89% in the county as a whole
recognizing the importance of addressing the flooding and public health issues in sunnyside community members worked directly with the aggie researchers during a series of meetings and tours to select a 202-acre area within the community as their project site
this collaboration with community members did not stop once the site was selected however; resident input was an important part of the project from beginning to end
the community members know more about whats going on than we ever will so getting their feedback is key newman said its super important to have them involved throughout they can provide ground truthing (the process of checking the results of machine learning for real-world accuracy) for our data and help us propose solutions that will not only work but also fit with how the community wants to grow
residents involvement also helps make sure that the final plan is one that can actually be implemented in regards to regular maintenance and cost
by combining the results from three separate landscape performance tools that quantify different aspects of gi the researchers were able to get a complete picture of what was needed to reduce runoff and flooding in sunnyside
there are about six applicable performance tools that we can mix and match in different ways in this case we used three which is probably the most ever combined for one project newman said by mixing tools you can show much broader impacts in this case we were able to combine them to show the runoff reduction the contaminant load decrease and the economic benefit of green infrastructure
the three tools used were the value of green infrastructure tool (vgi) which assigns economic value to gi practices and investments; the green values national stormwater calculator (gvc) which assesses the effectiveness and cost of stormwater management practices; and the long-term hydrologic impact assessment model (l-thia) which estimates long-term runoff and the amount of pollution it contains
newman other superfund researchers and texas a&m students spent a year and a half collecting the raw data and turning it into an actionable plan that not only reduces runoff and contaminants but also creates new recreational spaces housing and job opportunities for the community
the issue is that theres so much impervious surface (such as roads and parking lots) because we develop so rapidly and haphazardly water doesnt have anywhere to go; its just accumulating newman said our approach breaks up a lot of the monotony of the impervious surfaces and gives the water somewhere to be stored
at the same time the plants added to the area pull contaminants from the water through a process known as phytoremediation
green infrastructurefrom bioswales and rain gardens to larger things like vegetated riparian areas and constructed wetlandsnot only slows the runoff volume down to the degree where its naturally phytoremediated but it also allows it much more time to seep down into the aquifer newman said
recharging aquifers supplies the community with more clean water in the long-term providing benefits for years to come
once their work was done the researchers provided sunnyside residents with a final proposal containing the details of the plan its many benefits and possible funding options now its up to the community members to make it a reality
find the full publication at https://wwwmdpicom/2071-1050/14/7/4247/htm
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
sixteen faculty members from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) have been listed among the top 2% of scientists in the world according to stanford universitys list of the most cited scientists
dr stephen safe distinguished professor of toxicology in the cvmbs department of veterinary physiology and pharmacology (vtpp) was the highest listed cvmbs faculty member and the second highest faculty member at texas a&m university his ranking of 488 puts him in the top 01% worldwide
safes career has focused on researching medical compounds to treat and cure cancers; he was inducted as a fellow by the american association for the advancement of science (aaas) earlier this year and his research has been cited more than 43 000 times since 1996
dr michael criscitiello cvmbs associate dean for research and graduate studies said having this many faculty on the list demonstrates the quality of research in the cvmbs and the impact cvmbs research has beyond college station and texas
our faculty members are working across disciplines at texas a&m and with federal and industry partners to develop innovative solutions to problems that challenge the world today said criscitiello as importantly these cvmbs faculty scientists are also inspiring the next generation of researchers through education and mentorship ensuring that aggies will continue to play a critical role in protecting animal human and environmental health for decades to come
the list also includes at least one faculty member from every cvmbs department which dr john august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m university said shows the breadth and scope of the quality work being done within the college
each day through clinical trials in our veterinary medical teaching hospital and innovative and translational scientific research faculty members in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences are making discoveries that will improve the lives of animals and human beings august said embracing the aggie core values of excellence service and leadership these highly accomplished scientists are advancing both veterinary and human medicine so that doctors around the world can continue to offer the most advanced patient care
these rankings are based on data from elseviers scopus an abstract and citation database; the list comprises more than 186 000 scientists from universities hospitals institutes industries and laboratories around the work working in 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields rankings are measured by a combination of c-score (a metric based on citations to published papers) h-index (which measures productivity and citation impact of publications) and other factors
along with safe other current cvmbs faculty on the list include:
in addition cvmbs retired faculty listed for their career-wide accomplishments include:
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an international team of researchers including drs leif andersson and brian davis from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has made a new discovery that advances scientists understanding of the evolution of darwins finches
in a study published today in science advances the researchers identify 28 gene regions that have been particularly important in the evolution of darwins finches variations in these gene regions did not occur from recent mutations but instead accumulated over time as different species of darwins finches have evolved with striking differences in beak morphology
the loss of biodiversity measured as the increasing number of species that have become extinct due to the loss of natural habitats and human activities is of major concern at present
recognizing that the genes that played such a vital role in finch evolution have been present since the early stages of that evolution may provide conservation scientists with a new tool for battling extinctionprotecting large common species in addition to the small rare species
our study indicates that the loss of biodiversity is even more alarming than what is generally assumed because our main conclusion is that the rapid evolution of darwins finches was dependent on genetic variants that evolved over hundreds of thousands of years said andersson a professor at the cvmbs and uppsala university in sweden in order to maintain biodiversity for future generations it is as important to maintain large populations of common species as it is to save rare species from extinction because the former is best equipped to adapt to future changes of the environment
in the study the researchers compared the genomes of small medium and large ground finches which are similar but show striking differences in body and beak size to determine when the variations took place relative to when the different species evolved from their common ancestors
our genetic analysis revealed 28 gene regions that showed consistent differences among these three species said dr erik enbody who performed this analysis as a post-doctoral fellow at uppsala university we were surprised that these gene variants were also present among other types of darwins finches implying that they have a longer evolutionary history than the species themselves a major message is that these gene variants have been used and reused during the evolution of darwins finches
we also explored the function of the identified genes and noted that many of these genes are expressed in the developing beak in line with our assumption that genes affecting beak morphology must have had a prominent role during the evolution of darwins finches said dr carl-johan rubin a researcher at uppsala university and first shared author on the paper
darwins finches are a classic example of adaptive radiations groups of closely related species that have diversified in ecology and morphology from a common ancestral species within a relatively short period of time often after a new geographic area has been colonized
since the ancestral species of darwins finches arrived on galápagos approximately one million years ago 18 unique species have evolved leading many evolutionary biologists to wonder how such rapid evolution took place
darwins finches are unique in that they evolved in a relatively undisturbed environment; the archipelago is located about 600 miles west of south america and has only had permanent human settlements within the last 100 years
a key evolutionary change among these birds is the diversification of beak morphology that has allowed different species to utilize different food resources including seeds of various sizes insects pollen and nectar from cactus flowers and blood from other species
during our field work on the small island of daphne major during a period of 40 years we found ample evidence of how variation in beak morphology has had a major impact on food utilization and survival among these birds said drs peter and rosemary grant of princeton university who have collected more than 6 000 blood samples from different species of darwins finches over the years some of which were used in this study
the study also included the use of new samples collected to construct a high-quality genome map for darwins finches using portable sequencing instruments on galápagos
with the assistance of local researchers in the galápagos we were able to carry out the genome sequencing in the field where we collected the samples this ensured that we had the highest quality dna for sequence analysis rubin said this new high-quality map of the genome of darwins finches will be a significant resource for studies of these interesting groups of birds
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr ken muneoka has been no stranger to disrupting the field of regeneration; for example in a 2019 ground-breaking publication in nature the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) professor proved for the first time that joint regeneration in mammals was possible
now his team is again challenging other centuries-old beliefs about the fundamental science of the field this time related to how mammals might regenerate damaged parts of the body
in humans the natural ability to regenerate is limited to tissues like the epidermis the outermost layer of skin and some organs such as the liver
other species most notably salamanders have the ability to regenerate complex structures such as bones joints and even entire limbs as a result scientists have been studying these species for more than 200 years to try to understand the mechanisms behind limb regeneration in the hopes of someday translating those mechanisms to induce more extensive regeneration in humans
that research has led to a common belief that the single biggest key for limb regeneration is the presence of nerves
while that may be true for salamanders and other species it isnt the case in mammals according to two of muneokas recently published studies the first study published last year in the journal of bone and mineral research established that mechanical loading (the ability to apply force to or with an affected area) is a requirement for mammals the second published earlier this year in developmental biology established that the absence of nerves does not inhibit regeneration
together these findings present a sizeable shift in the thinking of how regeneration could work in human medicine
what these two studies show counteracts the two-century-old dogma that you need nerves to regenerate muneoka said what replaces it in mammals is that you need mechanical loading not nerves
scientists have long believed that two things must be present in an affected area in order to induce regeneration in mammals the first is growth factors which are molecules that can stimulate cells to regrow and reconstruct parts of the body
in natural regeneration these growth factors which vary from species to species and by area being regenerated are produced by the body for human-induced regeneration these growth factors must be introduced to the area
the second factor believed to be necessary was nerves this belief was predicated by many previous human-induced mammal regeneration studies on areas usually digit tips without nerves in which the whole limbs were also no longer usable
those studies would have the predicted outcome–when growth factors were introduced regeneration did not take place–leading to the conclusion that like in other species nerves were a requirement for regeneration
but the mechanical load aspect was ignored
in their studies muneoka and colleagues decided to take a step back and ask the question is it really the nerves or is lack of mechanical load part of the equation as well
connor dolan a former graduate student in muneokas lab and first author on both new studies (who now works at the walter reed national military medical center) came up with a way to test the denervation requirement in mammals that was inspired by astronauts
the technique called hindlimb suspension has been used by nasa and other scientists for decades to test how mammals react to zero gravity environments a similar process is used during medical procedures on legs of large animals to prevent the animals from putting weight on the affected limbs
dolan found that when the limbs were suspended even though they still had lots of nerves and could move around they couldnt actually put pressure on their limbs so the digit tips wouldnt regenerate muneoka said it just completely inhibited regeneration
as soon as the mechanical load returns however regeneration is rescued
absolutely nothing happens during the suspension muneoka said but once the load returns there will be a couple weeks of delay but then theyll begin to regenerate
that first step proved that even though nerves might be required the mechanical loading was a critical component to regeneration
taking the research a step further dolans second publication showed that nerves werent required by demonstrating that if a mouse has no nerves in one of its digits but does in the othersso that its still exerting force on the denervated digitthat digit will still regenerate
he found that they regenerate a little bit slower but they regenerated perfectly normally muneoka said
muneoka is quick to point out that their studies arent saying that previous research is wrong just that it doesnt directly apply to humans
there have been a number of studies in salamanders that prove that when you remove the nerves they do not regenerate muneoka said researchers have also been able to put growth factors they know are being produced by nerves into the cells and rescue regeneration
so salamanders probably do need nerves to regenerate he said but if were going to regenerate limbs in humans its going to be a lot more like what happens in mice
since first beginning to look at regeneration more than 20 years ago a number of muneokas ideas have pushed back against the generally accepted theories about regeneration he said that getting these two papers published took almost three years because they originally tried to submit them together
many scientists dont embrace this idea he said a lot of peoples careers are really dependent on their studies of nerves and how they affect regeneration for a study to come out and say that for humans its unlikely youll need the nerves the whole biomedical application of what people are doing in salamanders and fish kind of goes out the window
nerves not being required for regeneration in mammals may seem like an academic point after all what would be the point of regenerating a limb if the person couldnt feel it or control it because it had no nerves in that sense nerves are still going to be an important part of the puzzle
from muneokas perspective the shift is that instead of thinking of nerves as a requirement for regeneration nerves are a part of what needs to be regenerated
dr larry suva head of the cvmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) says the issue is that nobody was even thinking about the load aspect previously
think of a blast injury where a soldier is left with a stump suva said no one until this paper came out was even thinking about a requirement from mechanical influences you had people see that a denervated animal doesnt regenerate and theyre thinking its because the nerve was cut but nobody was studying the mechanical load aspect
as suva puts it science is full of people looking where the light is best
i work on bones so when i see a problem i look at the bone problem he said people who work on nerves all they look at are nerves so its very rare that someone like dr muneoka will take a step back and take a more holistic view
thats what he brought to this idea to this 200-year-old data suva said we now have to look at regeneration through a different lens because now we know the mechanical influences are extremely important
one of the results of research focusing on nerves is that scientists have been able to recreate the growth factors that nerves produce which has allowed researchers to start regeneration in salamanders even if the nerves arent present suva said that with these new findings scientists will now know they have to do the same with the mechanical load aspect if they want to start regeneration in mammals
scientists already have been able to trick the body into thinking nerves are still present he said but now they know theyll also have to trick it into thinking theres a mechanical load something that has not been done before
because cells react differently under mechanical load somehow that load is being translated biochemically inside the cell
theres a small number of labs looking at the biochemical basis for what mechanical load does to a cell muneoka said if we could understand that biochemical signal then perhaps the physical force of mechanical load can be replaced by some sort of cocktail of molecules that will create the same signals in the cells
the end of the road toward full human regeneration may still be a long way in the future but suva says that this kind of fundamental shift in thinking is a major marker on that road
regeneration of a human limb may still be science fiction but we know some facts about it and now we know you have to have that mechanical load along with the growth factors he said that changes how future scientists and engineers are going to solve this problem
there are still a number of complex problems to be solved before regenerating entire human limbs is possible but dr muneokas findings are an important next step to make sure were solving the right problems
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
one hundred-twenty graduates of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) are among the first veterinarians in the country eligible to receive a new certification from the american veterinary medical association (avma)
the avma veterinary first responder certificate will certify veterinarians who are trained to assist in disaster situations
the first online courses for practicing veterinarians to begin working toward the certificate were recently released by the avma once theyre all released veterinarians will combine those with courses available through the federal emergency management agencys (fema) independent study program to satisfy the core competencies and earn their certification
dr warren hess an assistant director in the avma division of animal and public health who oversees the program said this certification has been needed for some time
there is a lot of excitement in the animal disaster community for this program he said while it may take some time before there is a larger number of courses the excitement comes from the fact that there is finally a standard for veterinary responders
the avma also approved the texas a&m veterinary emergency teams (vet) fourth-year clinical rotation vet emergency management as part of the certificate program the rotation satisfies most of the core competencies with the remaining competencies being covered earlier in the texas a&m veterinary curriculum the approval is also retroactive to the beginning of last academic year
as a result the 120 students who completed the rotation in the last year met requirements for the new certificate as soon as they graduated from the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program on may 11
the only other veterinarians immediately eligible for the certificate are ones who currently serve in first responder roles or that teach or previously taught avma approved courses that group includes dr wesley bissett vet director and dr deb zoran vet member and cvmbs professor of small animal clinical sciences
this is definitely a much-needed certification from the avma bissett said its one thing to want to help but certifying veterinarians who know how to help and have that training to know how to correctly integrate with other responders will be a major asset in emergency situations
during the two-week vet rotation at texas a&m students get experience in both preparing for and responding to emergency situations
this includes training in disaster medicine and response; on the importance of record keeping personal preparedness and practice preparedness; and on how to assist communities with emergency planning
during most rotations the students work with county officials across texas to help a county develop emergency operations plans but if the vet is activated during the rotation students deploy with the team and get first-hand experience in disaster response earlier this year a group of students was deployed with the team to eastland county in response to wildfires
a few times a year students also work with feedlot operators in the texas panhandle to develop biosecurity plans that will help the feedlots continue operations even in the case of an infectious disease outbreak
zoran said the approval is a recognition of how effectively the rotation trains students to be able to respond in emergencies
when your practice or your community is in an emergency situation you want to be able to help but its incredibly difficult to integrate into the disaster response systems if you arent already familiar with them she said having this certification will show that our students graduate with that critical training
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when henry a 7-year-old rescue mastiff finished his final round of chemotherapy at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath) he became the first patient to celebrate his achievement with the hospitals new btho cancer bell
the bell which was installed in april is used to signify a patients completion of either chemotherapy or radiation treatmenta significant milestone in their fight against cancer its modeled after similar cancer bells at human medical institutions and was built by sath veterinary technician julio peraza
the completion of therapy is always the most emotional day for our owners said jaclyn christensen a veterinary technician in the saths oncology service the bell signifies that theyve done it theyve hit this milestone and started a new chapter most owners feel pretty defeated by the cancer diagnosis so this is an opportunity for us to turn their mindset around
as oncology is the second busiest service at the hospital the bell generally will be rung about once a week at the sath the oncology service is home to the leading veterinary cancer specialists in texas with the majority of its cancer patients receiving chemotherapy like henry
in october 2021 henrys owners robin and derrick newkirk noticed that the 210-pound dogs lymph nodes felt swollen which prompted a trip to the sath
we didnt think the swelling was anything at first because he had just gone to the veterinarian in august and his bloodwork looked perfect robin said but we ended up getting an appointment to get more work done at texas a&m and two weeks later they confirmed that he had multicentric lymphoma
already feeling shocked by the diagnosis the newkirks were hit even harder when they learned that the cancer was most likely stage five giving henry only four to six weeks to live if he didnt have treatment
we just sat there and couldnt even talk for a minute robin said we were listening to the doctor but i think i just blanked it all out because afterwards im like ‘i have no idea what just happened i dont really remember the rest of that day
the newkirks chose to pursue treatment and brought henry to texas a&m for his first round of chemotherapy on nov 1 they continued to make the drive from magnolia to college station at least once a week for the next six months
unfortunately henry was one of a small percentage of dogs to experience several side effects from the treatment including infections and gastrointestinal problems throughout it all however he remained happy and friendly both at the hospital and at home
if he was suffering or not doing well with chemo we wouldve stopped to preserve his quality of life but he stayed happy loving and sweet robin said even though he had a lot of side effects they were shortjust a day or two there were only a couple days in the past six months when he didnt feel well enough to play
despite all of the side effects the chemotherapy was a success; henrys lymphoma vanished in december after only a few treatments and has not returned
after henry finished his last treatment on april 6 he and his care team joined the newkirks in the sath lobby to celebrate
ringing that bell was like ‘ok now henry gets to be henry without any side effects and without having to travel every week robin said i just couldnt believe he made it i think hes going to be really happy and hopefully the cancer stays away as long as it can henrys not ready to go anywhere
ringing the bell meant a lot to the newkirks not only because it marked the end of chemotherapy but also because it was a chance to celebrate with the many hospital employees who had grown to love the giant dog
they love him so much there truly love him they have tears in their eyes when they talk about him robin said i know that when he goes there ashleys (wiley) going to sit with him on the floor and clean his ears at least every other week and my husband says that the way liz (wood) puts her face up to his and nuzzles his forehead is just like what i do even though shes never seen me do it
they know henry and they know us she said i didnt feel bad bringing him there and leaving him there all day because i knew someone was always with him
for christensen and others at the hospital who love henry watching his family ring the bell is a moment of joy tinged with heartache
its bittersweet for us because all of a sudden were not going to see this patient that we built a relationship with as often christensen said but this is exactly what we want to be able to finish treatment and send them off to live their lives as they did before chemo
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
five former students from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) were recognized at the 2022 outstanding alumni & rising star awards ceremony on may 20 2022
the outstanding alumni award is the highest honor bestowed by the college and recognizes those who have reached a level of success in their professional careers that brings credit to both the individual and the cvmbs honorees may be graduates of the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) professional program graduate academic programs (ms phd) or biomedical sciences (bims) undergraduate program
established in 2013 the rising star award recognizes cvmbs graduates who have completed their education within the last 10 years these outstanding former students have made significant professional accomplishments early in their careers including public service and volunteer activities that serve to positively reflect upon the college and texas a&m
dr norman guilloud was raised on a farm near pottsboro texas although he was active in 4-h and ffa he credits dr w n porter for inspiring him to be a veterinarian at the age of 12 when porter successfully removed a potato from the larynx of one of his hogs at that point he made the decision to become a veterinarian
shortly after graduating in 1960 with a doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from texas a&m university guilloud began climbing the veterinary career ladder
his first position was in private practice in dallas in 1962 he was drafted into the us army veterinary corps and served as a captain at the walter reed army institute for research in washington dc
after his discharge in 1964 guilloud was offered the opportunity to be the first veterinarian at the yerkes regional primate research center of emory university because of his groundbreaking research and skills in laboratory animal medicine while there he diagnosed and treated the first cases of polio in nonhuman primates and recommended the use of oral polio vaccine at zoos and in the wild a landmark moment in primate medicine that continues today
in 1972 guilloud became the first attending veterinarian at princeton university with responsibility for the welfare of all animals within the institution he consulted there until 1996 while working at er squibb pharmaceutical
throughout his career guilloud also has consulted with many high-profile pharmaceutical companies to improve the care of primates and other animal species while supporting pioneering research he has helped advance xenotransplantation or the transplanting of nonhuman tissues or organs into human recipients
in addition to his veterinary medical expertise guilloud has accumulated more than 60 years of management experience as an attending veterinarian
like many aggies he also has given back to his community a gift to his local hospital was instrumental in the construction of the norman and denise guilloud cardiovascular center which now offers patient procedures such as angioplasty that previously were not performed at their hospital
throughout his career peers have said guilloud is unrivaled as an authority in the animal care field his service over the years makes him an invaluable resource allowing many generations of scientists the ability to learn from his unique perspective conveyed as always in guillouds personable and welcoming style
guilloud has never hesitated to share information with others from all levels of education on the topic of animal care he has presented numerous training sessions at professional meetings to further the understanding of procedures used in laboratory animal medicine and his approach is the same whether he is addressing a high-level academic group or trying to inspire a group of pre-veterinary students
i have seen him show compassion gentle caring heartbreak and a genuine concern for all animals one nominator said he has been a great mentor attending veterinarian and a guiding force during my career
guilloud and his wife denise live on a farm near stockton new jersey where he continues at age 86 to share knowledge and experience with others in the field of laboratory animal medicine
throughout a career that truly exemplifies texas a&ms core value of selfless service dr angela pelzel-mccluskeys innovative thinking and willingness to collaborate have helped protect the united statess equine industry in a number of ways
pelzel-mccluskey earned bachelors degrees from texas a&m university in biomedical sciences graduating magna cum laude in 1997 and veterinary science graduating cum laude in 1998 she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree in 2001 and also holds a master of science degree in veterinary immunology and infectious disease from washington state university
since 2006 pelzel-mccluskey has worked for the us department of agricultures (usda) animal and plant health inspection service (aphis) in fort collins colorado most recently as the national equine epidemiologist overseeing the response to equine infectious disease outbreaks nationwide she has been the lead epidemiologist for more than 30 major disease outbreak responses to date
pelzel-mccluskey also has worked internationally training other animal health officials in epidemiology and outbreak response in central america western africa and the middle east she has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters on regulatory medicine and infectious disease topics
nomination letters from across the country detail the widespread impact shes had one describes her as the go-to expert for regulations and surveillance for endemic and transboundary equine infectious diseases in the united states
another described how her guidance helped save horses when equine piroplasmosis (a blood-borne protozoal infection in horses) was first detected in the us at a time when euthanasia or export from the us were the only options for infected horses pelzel-mccluskeys efforts led to a successful treatment protocol
this was a challenging leadership position as there were many opinions on how to approach the detection of equine piroplasmosis in us horses one nominator said she worked diligently to ensure that all voices were heard and that a science-based approach was used to come up with the final guidance documents
one nominator described her out-the-box thinking in assessing and addressing disease risk to the national equine populationusing a behaviorist to develop targeted messaging to reach high-risk populations as well as social media to identify and trace potential exposuresas highly innovative
as a result of those efforts several organizations have increased their efforts in collaboratively addressing infectious disease issues in unsanctioned racehorses
her long-term and ongoing dedication to this issue is advancing regulatory equine medicine and ensuring the future health and welfare of the entire us equine population another nominator said
in 2016 she received the federal partnership award from the us animal health association for her expertise and collaboration with states and industry on equine health issues
a champion for the horse and advocate for the profession in her own position at the usda she serves as a leader in the industry fighting for programs resources and support for the horse and equine veterinary profession one nominator said the equine population remains healthy and the horse industry remains vibrant and informed due to the efforts of dr pelzel-mccluskey
pelzel-mccluskey lives on a small ranch in livermore colorado with her horses and her husband brian who is also a veterinary epidemiologist
very few aggies have incorporated the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) mission of serving every texan every day into their careers as extensively as dr laura robinson
in addition to her 1990 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree robinson also earned a bachelors degree in veterinary science in 1988 and a masters degree in epidemiology in 1991 from texas a&m university
after graduation she began serving americans and other world citizens as an epidemic intelligence service officer with the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) in atlanta there she conducted field operations for q fevera zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria coxiella burnetiiin wyoming and for canine rabies vaccination coverage in the philippines and south texas
she moved back to texas in 1994 to work in the zoonosis control program which she would eventually oversee in the texas department of state health services
her cdc experience helped her become a leader in the implementation of the texas oral rabies vaccination program (orvp) with which she was instrumental in the response to two epidemics of rabies in animals along the texas-mexico border in 1995 that resulted in two human deaths and thousands of post-exposure treatments that response which included 18 south texas counties was the states first orvp and was at the time the largest single vaccine bait drop in the world
dr laura robinson has saved texans lives one nominator said yes that is the goal of any public health professional but dr robinson took it to another level
she was the zoonosis control program veterinarian for the department of state health services during one of the greatest zoonotic disease threats to the citizens of texas the introduction of what would be named the domestic dog/coyote variant of rabies the nominator said through her guidance and work ethic that variant was pushed out of texas
from 2017-2021 she served as the assistant state public health veterinarian overseeing the orvp and supervising the zoonosis control branch epidemiology team she retired from the position last august
robinsons medical expertise has led her to become a leader not only in her field but also as a mentor and someone colleagues know they can count on
there is never a time when dr robinson is not willing to lend her extensive expertise and insightful input into any discussion on a far-reaching array of issues and topics another nominator said her impressive knowledge is renowned by all of her peers statewide and she is always sought for her ever-ready resources she is also one of the most dependable people one could ever hope to meet
by dedicating her career to service and research in the united states military col michelle thompson is using her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree to benefit both people and animals
thompson earned a bachelors degree in marine biology from texas a&m university and her dvm in 2002; during that time she developed a strong interest in pathology
michelle stood out because of her intelligence organizational skills and ability to interact with her peers in a positive and productive manner a former professor said in the 25 years i was on the faculty at texas a&m i had the privilege of working with a number of outstanding students but i cannot think of one who is more worthy of recognition for their post-graduate contributions to our profession and the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
after graduation thompson entered the us army as a captain serving in puerto rico with missions in the us & british virgin islands; central america; and guantanamo bay cuba before joining the armed forces institute of pathology in washington dc as an anatomic pathology resident
during this time she served as the chief pathology resident organizing a weekly international pathology conference in her final year she also received the cl davis dvm foundation for the advancement of veterinary and comparative pathologys student scholarship award in veterinary pathology
in 2008 she became a diplomate of the american college of veterinary pathologists and moved to san antonios tri-service research laboratory where she served in several positions including deputy director of the 711th human performance wing airman systems directorate bioeffects division veterinary sciences branch
col thompson lives the army values and expects others to do the same another nominator said she is a well-disciplined officer who treats all with dignity and respect and ensures an environment of fairness awareness and resiliency
thompson was promoted to colonel in 2019 and currently serves as director of the us department of defense (dod) food analysis and diagnostic laboratory at fort sam houstonthe dods premier global one health laboratory serving customers in more than 47 states and 18 countries
her research interests include tactical combat casualty care wound healing warfighter performance enhancement and infectious diseases she has contributed to eight published articles one of which was featured on the may 2008 cover of the journal of veterinary pathology she also co-authored the radiation and other physical agents chapter in haschek and rousseauxs handbook of toxicologic pathology
she serves as a wonderful role model for any professional who would like to have a successful career and raise a family another nominator said she is active in her church and school community in san antonio and is just generally a great person and loyal friend
thompson has received numerous honors during her career including the army meritorious service medal air force meritorious service medal national defense service medal and global war on terrorism service medal she earned the prestigious army medical departments (amedd) 9a proficiency designator a professional excellence honor bestowed by the army surgeon general upon candidates who have attained full professional status and prominence in their field thompson is also a member of the amedds order of military medical merit
her image was used as a model for a bronze statue representing the army veterinary corps research and development mission which debuted in 2016 and is on display at the fort sam houston army medical museum
she lives in san antonio with her twin daughters ashley and sofia; her great pyrenees olaf; and three cats mr fluffy tiggy and grumpy kitty she credits her mother elena sue cardwell as a source of wisdom strength and inspiration throughout her life and her father jose r pacheco also as a source of wisdom and support over the years
she and her girls enjoy the great outdoors and travel in their spare time
in the nine years since dr katrina breitreiter earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree she has established a career devoted to improving the lives of catsand their peoplein the austin area
after earning a bachelors degree in psychology from the university of texas at arlington breitreiter discovered a love for veterinary medicine while volunteering at an animal hospital and went on to earn her dvm from texas a&m university in 2013
there are few people in the world who pick a dream and have the drive to actually accomplish that goal kat has done this countless times and continues to inspire her friends colleagues staff and clients one nominator said there is no doubt that she will contribute an immeasurable amount to feline veterinary medicine throughout her career
she began her career as a shelter veterinarian at the austin humane society providing trap neuter return services for the community cats of austin and then worked as an associate veterinarian in corporate and small animal general practice
in 2017 breitreiter established the south austin cat hospital a feline-only practice dedicated to reducing cats fear and stress during veterinary visits since then the practice has grown to include three other full-time veterinarians and has earned the american association of feline practitioners (aafp) gold cat friendly practice recognition
south austin cat hospital is an exemplary veterinary practice and dr breitreiter has raised the local level of care with her attention to detail practice of good medicine and excellent stewardship of a veterinary hospital a nominator said in four short years she has grown the hospital tremendously while keeping her staff clients and patients happy
breitreiter became austins first board certified veterinary specialist in feline practice through the american board of veterinary practitioners in 2020 she also earned the title of cat friendly veterinarian through the aafp in 2020
outside of her work she volunteers on the williamson county regional animal shelter advisory board and as the texas director for the paw project a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization seeking to end the practice of feline declawing through education and legislation as a result of breitreiters advocacy travis county passed local legislation banning the declawing of cats in 2021
katrina is one of the most passionate veterinarians i have ever met another nominator said you can see her excitement every time she talks to an owner about their pet consults a colleague about a case or even as she reads the latest edition of an internal medicine textbook she is absolutely brilliant at taking a complex disease and simplifying it so an owner can understand their pets condition
breitreiter has been recognized with the 2014 banfield service award and the austin business journals 2015 people on the move award she has published work in both the journal of feline medicine & surgery and in veterinary dermatology
when breitreiter isnt helping cats she enjoys playing video and board games with her husband joseph practicing yoga and spending time with her mother she and her husband share their home in austin with six feline family members
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
having grown up on her familys beef cattle ranch in the small town of pampa texas fourth-year veterinary student emily terry is no stranger to working with livestock
her lifelong interest in cattle combined with her desire to return to the texas panhandle has led to her new job at the animal clinic of perryton located only 60 miles north of her hometown and seven miles south of the texas-oklahoma border
as she graduates magna cum laude today from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) terry looks forward to serving ranchers like her family as a rural large animal veterinarian
when she was 9 years old terry decided to follow in the footsteps of her older cousins by raising pigs for junior ffa only two years later she moved up to showing steers
she continued working with animals throughout middle and high school eventually showing through ffa while also participating in ffas career and leadership development events
i always kind of knew that i wanted to become a veterinarian but ffa definitely added to it terry said it was a nice introduction to veterinary medicine it was a little more knowledge than i already had especially the parasites and the instruments that they didnt ever really take the time to teach you when youre working at a clinic
as a high schooler she also began spending time each summer working at friends mixed-animal veterinary practice in hillsboro
we saw food animals and a few horses but it was definitely primarily small animal she said theyre not super close to many specialty practices and their clientele often didnt have the funds to drive their animals to one which gave the clinic some pretty advanced opportunities for rural medicine
after finishing high school terry moved to college station to pursue a bachelors degree in animal science at texas a&m during which time she connected with dr chris skaggs the college of agriculture and life sciences associate dean for student development
dr skaggs was really good about getting me involved during my animal science degree terry said i proctored for some of the general animal science labs and i helped with some of the judging contests and workshops
as it turned out her connection with skaggs ended up providing more than just volunteer opportunitieshis brother dr randy skaggs is the owner of the animal clinic of perryton terrys new workplace
the skaggses have been very influential my entire life between chris down here and now working for his brother she said its been really cool seeing how that relationship carried through
terrys early interest in livestock led her to study veterinary medicine at the cvmbs where she knew she could gain practical large animal experience during veterinary school
specifically the cvmbs veterinary education research & outreach (vero) campus in canyon presented the perfect opportunity to get hands-on experience with cattle in a location not far from where she hoped to work as a veterinarian
during her fourth year as a veterinary student terry completed three clinical rotations at veroin rural practice dairy medicine and cow/calf medicinethe first of which took place only two weeks into her clinical year
those were some of my favorite rotations she said for the rural practice rotation we divided our time between dr joe hillhouse (of carson county veterinary clinic) in panhandle and dr zach smith (of dimmitt veterinary clinic) in dimmitt both of them were really good about just stepping back and letting us do everything and then helping if we needed it
one of her favorite memories from her clinical year was when she had the chance to perform four cattle c-sections within 24 hours at vero an opportunity she most likely would not have had in college station but was a realistic view of life as a rural veterinarian
one of my classmates and i had one of the most unique experiences in dimmitt during our on-call shift over memorial day she said this guy came in on friday with one cow that was having trouble giving birth so we ended up doing a c-section during the day on friday
then after we did that one he said he had seven or eight others that he had also induced and he would probably be back with more he called me right before i was getting ready to leave the next day saying he had another c-section coming in 30 minutes she said five hours later we had done three other c-sections and pulled one calf
several months later terry returned to canyon for her back-to-back dairy and cow/calf rotations during which she spent a lot of time doing pregnancy check palpations
the vero rotations were doubly beneficial to terry because of her strong interest in theriogenology the science of reproduction
its just always been very interesting to me the things that you can do to change the pregnancy and the ways you can get animals pregnant she said if you want all your cattle to get pregnant at the same time you can make that happen im excited to get to treat a lot more cattle in the future and have a bit of downtime to get certified for artificial insemination
at the clinic in perryton terry will largely be seeing production beef cattle which will provide many opportunities to perform pregnancy checks and her other favorite responsibilities shes also expecting to see plenty of small animals plus the pigs sheep and goats that students in the local ffa chapter raise
terry said she is excited to soon be joining the ranks of rural veterinarians protecting our nations food supply as well as returning home to the small-town life she knows and loves
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a new study published in scientific reports has revealed the strongest evidence to date that all bison in north america carry multiple small but clearly identifiable regions of dna that originated from domestic cattle
in the study texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) researchers led by drs james derr and brian davis compared genome sequences among the major historical lineages of bison to 1 842 domestic cattle establishing that all analyzed bison genomes contained evidence of cattle introgression
this shared genetic ancestry is the result of multiple hybridization events between north american bison and cattle over the last 200 years which followed the well-documented bison population crash of the 1800s
this comparative study clearly documents that the people responsible for saving the bison from extinction in the late 1800s are also responsible for introducing cattle genetics into this species derr said
this study updates findings from a series of studies published 20 years ago in which derrs team revealed that only a few bison herds existed that appeared to be free of domestic cattle introgression now with better genetic technology these researchers have shown that even those herds are not free from hybridization
today it appears that all major public private tribal and non-governmental organization bison herds have low levels of cattle genomic introgression said sam stroupe a phd student in derrs lab and first author of the study this includes yellowstone national park as well as elk island national park in canada which were thought to be free of cattle introgression based on previous genetic studies
derr said that these new findings will once again have ramifications for bison conservation efforts and long-term conservation planning since certain herds will no longer need to be managed in isolation for example these findings really open up a number of opportunities for the establishment of new bison conservation herds and the augmentation of existing herds
the history of bison includes one of the best-documented population crashes of any wildlife species and one of the most spectacular population recoveries in all of conservation biology due almost exclusively to the efforts of private herd ownership
prior to 1800 biologists estimated that more than 30 million bison roamed the central plains of northern mexico the united states and canada a combination of indiscriminate killing loss of access to suitable habitats and imported livestock diseases plunged bison numbers to a low of just a few hundred by the late 1870s
this kind of population crash is known as a bottleneck and every modern bisonof which there are now more than 430 000 according to the national park serviceis descended from that small number of survivors
most surviving bison were under the control of only five different cattle ranchers who appear to have been motivated by the writings of fellow bison ranchers charles goodnight of texas and charles jones of kansas both professional cattle breeders extensively documented and promoted crossbreeding between bison and domestic cattle in an attempt to develop a better beef-producing animal
the american bison were proven successful on this continent surviving glaciation and multiple other climatic events over thousands of years derr said by crossing bison and cattle those intrepid cattlemen hypothesized they could get a beef animal that is as resilient as bison but that produces as much quality meat as beef cattle in the end they failed due to inadvertent creation of a lackluster beef animal
as one of the worlds most iconic animals bison play a number of important and sometimes conflicting roles in society
in the early 1900s at about the same time that these ranchers were crossbreeding biologist and early wildlife conservationist william hornaday the first director of the new york zoological park began sounding the alarm that north american bison were being driven to extinction through hornadays efforts with the american bison society in 1905 a national movement was directed at establishing new bison conservation populations and preserving existing bison populations found in yellowstone and wood buffalo national parks
however the only bison available to establish these new conservation herds were almost exclusively animals from the cattlemen responsible for the species salvation
as a result these well-intentioned hybridization efforts leave a complicated genetic legacy davis said without these private herds it is possible bison would have become extinct at the same time this intentional introduction of interspecies dna resulted in remnant cattle footprints in the genomes of the entire contemporary species
we now have the computational and molecular tools to compare bison genomic sequences to thousands of cattle and conclusively determine the level and distribution of domestic cattle genetics in bison that represent each of these historical bison lineages he said it is clear that some of the animals that were available to help save this species from extinction in the late 1800s were the products of these earlier hybridization experiments and we are now left with the legacy of low levels of cattle genomic introgression across all modern bison populations
according to derr it is important to recognize that although hybridization between closely related wildlife species has occurred naturally over timewell-known examples include coyotes and eastern wolves grizzlies and polar bears as well as bobcats and canadian lynxthe bison-cattle hybridization is almost entirely a purposeful human-made event that happened to coincide with the tremendous population bottleneck of the late 1800s
two primary events an extremely small bison population size and widespread interest in developing hybrid animals changed and shaped the genomes of this species in ways we are just now starting to understand derr said nevertheless this species did survive and now they are thriving across the plains of north america
as one of the worlds most iconic animals bison play a number of important and sometimes conflicting roles in society
while some consider them a wildlife species that shouldnt be domesticated others consider them an important economic livestock animal; although bison are raised as wildlife in state and federal parks and wildlife refuges most bison alive today are owned by private ranchers and are raised for meat and fiber production
to others they hold religious and spiritual roles as well as being icons of continental pride in 2016 bison were even named the us national mammal
though viewed in different ways bison conservation is a priority to many different groups and it is imperative that we agree to use the best available scientific information to make decisions moving forward stroupe said these findings clearly show that using modern genomic biotechnology we can uncover many historical details regarding the past histories of a species and use this information to provide informed stewardship in establishing conservation policies into the future
while many of these livestock herds are rather small with 100 animals or less there are some exceptions turner enterprises in bozeman montana is the largest private producer of bison with over 45 000 animals spread across multiple states
according to mark kossler vice president of ranch operations turner enterprises will use this new information to further improve its conservation efforts
turner enterprises has used the bison genetic work of texas a&m university for the last 20 years to structure genetic management of our maternal herds concerning cattle mitochondrial dna introgression he said we were fully aware that advancing technology and mapping of the entire bison genome could reveal that all bison nuclear dna could have cattle introgression as well
knowing that the north american bison herd has widespread introgression of cattle dna though in small amounts will allow our operations to structure future genetic management between our herds to maintain broad genetic diversity without the worry of cross contaminating herds that were perceived to be ‘clean of introgression he said this is helpful information for the bison community we are appreciative of texas a&m universitys research and diligence in providing the bison community the final answer on this question of bison genetic purity
les kroeger president of the canadian bison association which helped fund derrs research agreed that better information is always a positive step for their sustainability and conservation efforts
as research tools improve we gain a better understanding of the complex history of bison he said with this information we can continue to lead the way to grow healthy populations of this iconic animal for future generations to enjoy the commercial bison industry continues to support research and conservation initiatives while continuing to sustainably produce a high-quality protein for consumers to enjoy
chad kremer president of the national bison association added that the information will give bison producers across the country better information to manage their herds
the national bison association welcomes these research findings as we continue to unravel the long and complicated history of the american bisons genetic lineage he said research projects such as this continue to assist producers in their ability to maintain healthy and diverse genetics in bison herds today genetics are a cornerstone of modern-day herd management and something the national bison association promotes heavily in its outreach and education to producers across the continent through our north american bison registry it is our hope that bison producers will utilize this data and technology to continue to improve their own herds genetics while continuing to restore bison to their native landscape
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr karen cornell associate dean for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) professional program has received two university-wide awards this spring for her dedication to excellence and student success
she was recognized with a university-level distinguished achievement award in the category of administration from the association of former students on april 25 and a john j koldus iii faculty and staff achievement award from the division of student affairs on may 4
dr cornell is uniquely dedicated to ensuring our veterinary students succeed not only in the doctor of veterinary medicine program but also as future veterinarians and community leaders said dr john august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m university she is more than deserving of these recognitions and is vital to the success of our college
the university-level distinguished achievement award is given to one administrator each year who exhibits a high standard of excellence and is held in high esteem by their colleagues during the april 25 ceremony cornell received a cash gift engraved watch and commemorative plaque
the john j koldus iii faculty and staff achievement award is given to two individuals each year who have a strong interest in overall student development and success which includes advocating for students supporting student well-being and having a personal interest in enhancing the student experience at the may 4 ceremony for this honor cornell received a memento and a $1 000 donation to a student organization of her choice
in addition to her role as associate dean cornell serves as the cvmbs interim director of the cvmbs office of diversity & inclusion and the earline & ap wiley endowed veterinary chair she has been a faculty member at the cvmbs since 2016 and teaches a variety of subjects including diagnostic radiology anesthesiology and small animal surgery
she has previously been recognized with the american veterinary medical associations (avma) student avma community outreach excellence award and the carl j norden distinguished teacher award as well as the distinguished veterinary alumni honors award from purdue university
watch cornells award presentation from the may 4 ceremony here and a recording of the full ceremony here
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) small animal teaching hospital (sath) recently earned re-accreditation from the american animal hospital association (aaha) in several specialty areas and as a level ii emergency and critical care facility by the veterinary emergency & critical care society (veccs)
i am extremely proud of the efforts of the sath faculty and staff said dr john r august the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m these types of designations are not easy to earn so it speaks both to the exceptional level of care that our patients receive and to the hard work of our faculty staff and students in maintaining this high level of care
receiving an aaha specialty accreditation includes adhering to high-quality standards in all areas including pain management patient care team training and medical record keeping each accredited area also must have a board-certified specialist on staff
dr stacy eckman cvmbs associate dean for hospital operations said the aaha accreditation which is renewed every three years shows the commitment of the sath across its specialties
in 2009 the sath became the first teaching hospital to receive the prestigious aaha accreditation
we are one of only a handful of academic teaching hospitals and specialty hospitals that have received the aaha accreditation she said the rigorous standards aaha sets allow us to hold ourselves to an even higher quality and standard of care and ensure that we are accountable across all levels
the areas receiving aaha specialty accreditation include:
the reaccreditation as a level ii emergency and critical care facility is also an important designation
according to the veccs a level ii designation means the facility is a 24-hour acute care facility with the medical staff personnel and training necessary to provide emergent and critical patient care this facility is open to receive small animal emergency patients 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year
the only teaching hospital in the state of texas the sath sees more than 21 000 cases per year and is also designated as a gold standard cat friendly practice by the american association of feline practitioners
according to eckman even though attainting these designations is hard work they are important so that clients are confident they are receiving the highest standard of care
these accreditations and certifications guarantee external experts are reviewing our hospital and the way we operate which ensures we are practicing the highest quality of veterinary medicine in many areas for our clients and our patients eckman said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m universitys new mrapid air quality testing van a collaboration between the superfund research center and school of public health will give researchers and communities the ability to detect hazardous chemical air pollutants in real time while on location
mrapid which stands for mobile responding to air pollution in disasters was developed for responding to disaster events that include the release of airborne pollutants it will provide immediate hyperlocal air quality information to potentially exposed populations including first responders
the van is equipped with a highly sensitive instrument that allows it to detect a wide range of chemical pollutants and offer real-time results that are linked with the vans specific location
the van is funded by a grant through texas a&ms research development fund awarded to drs natalie johnson and thomas mcdonald at the school of public health and dr ivan rusyn director of the superfund center
this whole idea really came about after a couple of large-scale disasters one of which was hurricane harvey there were emissions of benzene which is a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant in the houston area johnson said dr ivan rusyn dr tommy mcdonald and i initiated the grant through a&m to acquire the equipment and van so we would be able to be a statewide resource to respond to similar pollution events following disasters
texas currently has a network of stationary air quality monitors throughout the state but these typically only measure for solid particles (like dust and smoke) and some gas phase pollutants (like ozone) but not the larger range of volatile air toxics that mrapid detects
these pollutants are mainly composed of hazardous volatile organic compounds (vocs) which are human-made chemicals that are constantly released into the airthrough gasoline and diesel emissions industrial emissions dry-cleaning tobacco smoke and building materials including paints and varnishesand contribute to a baseline level of vocs in the atmosphere
a sudden increase in vocs following environmental disasters or industrial accidents is of major concern because they can cause a variety of short- and long-term health effects in people from eye irritation and nausea to organ damage and cancer
the mrapid vans use in the field will be conducted by johnson as well as toriq mustapha and mariana saitas trainees in texas a&ms interdisciplinary toxicology program
in addition to disaster response the van will be used for routine air sampling by the superfund center to support ongoing research projects and when requested exposure assessments for specific communities which will be led by dr garett sansom of the school of public health
were going to start by doing baseline sampling in the greater houston and galveston area because thats where a lot of the superfund centers ongoing work and community outreach is occurring johnson said unfortunately its not a matter of ‘if another hurricane will occur but when it will occur we want a good idea of the normal background levels so we can make comparisons following any environmental disasters
johnson an inhalation toxicologist will be using the vans ability to help establish baseline levels of vocs for a project focused on determining how the chemical pollutants affect children with asthma the leading chronic disease in childhood
im really passionate and concerned about asthma and the increased risk for respiratory infections caused by air pollutants johnson said we want to make sure that we know what a safe level is so we prevent any extreme infections or risks for development or exacerbation of asthma
one of the best ways we can do our toxicity testing is to know whats happening with the real-world mixtures she said the idea is that we would go out into communities collect samples and come back in our lab and not only test one chemical like benzene that we know contributes to respiratory distress and dysfunction but we could also look at a range of those real-world mixtures and then do chemical-based screening with lung cells
specific resources in the van include a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer for analyzing trace gases; metrological equipment to measure wind speed and direction temperature and relative humidity; and an on-board gps system
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two staff members from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) were recognized for their commendable service to the university with 2022 presidents meritorious service awards
elizabeth hinton the large animal surgical and sports medicine coordinator for the texas a&m large animal teaching hospital (lath) and mandy zachgo a veterinary technician in the cvmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) are two of 25 staff members from across the university to receive this honor
recipients of this highly prestigious award have demonstrated their commitment to the aggie core values of excellence integrity leadership loyalty respect and selfless service said texas a&m university president m katherine banks to each of them i extend my most sincere congratulations and deep appreciation for their efforts that make texas a&m university such a great institution
hinton and zachgo will be recognized at an awards ceremony on april 25 in the memorial student centers bethancourt ballroom they will each receive a $1 000 award commemorative plaque and lapel pin
hinton is known around the lath for her willingness to help colleagues and patients whenever she can
she puts the needs of the patients the hospital and her teams above all else one nominator said she will oftentimes be here late or early to support the hospital she is even available to her team when she is not here if anything as encouragement for their efforts
as a supervisor hinton prioritizes her teams wellbeing and strives to make each member feel valued and respected
elizabeth treats every single person with respect every single day another nominator said she cultivates a culture where ideas and opinions are shared and given the respectful consideration they deserve she has developed a mutual respect with not only her team but with other staff faculty and students in the hospital
in response to staffing challenges during the covid-19 pandemic hinton established a leadership training program to mentor fellow staff members and teach them leadership skills like conflict management
this program has been so effective in the hospital that we are working to provide it for all supervisors another nominator said she did this independently because she saw a local need; she works tirelessly without any sense of entitlement
hinton was also recognized with the cvmbs pearl enfield staff leadership award in 2019
zachgo has gone above and beyond her job expectations multiple times when she saw a need that she could fill
[when] the person who coordinates all testing and exams for our department retired immediately prior to the beginning of fall 2021 semester mandy stepped in and took over this persons responsibilities while continuing to perform her own duties one nominator said with excellence as her goal mandy worked extra hours to provide the same quality of service that the faculty were used to under the previous coordinator
zachgo plays a key role in the cvmbs aggie achieve course for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (idd) even going so far as to volunteer with the courtney cares hippotherapy program to encourage an aggie achieve student to participate
mandy is consistently kind and compassionate to all students another nominator said she respects them as unique individuals and goes out of her way to make all students feel welcome
as leader of the cvmbs teaching laboratory support team zachgo works beyond normal expectations to prepare lab spaces for students and enhance their learning experiences
mandy is the true epitome of the aggie core values another nominator said the success of our classes and labs are a direct result of her preparation and the energy she has for our faculty and students
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
usually when the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary emergency team (vet) arrives at the site of an emergency the primary danger has already passed but that wasnt the case when the team deployed in response to the wildfires in north texas eastland county
the map apps were trying to get us away from the fire but we were trying to go toward it said kamryn pursell one of four fourth-year veterinary students who joined the vet on this deployment i didnt realize how close we were going to be to the wildfires until our navigation apps kept trying to reroute us
the students arrived on march 20 and just that day three new fires sprang up and high winds rapidly expanded the already existing fires requiring the team to continually make preparations to move in case the fires spread their direction while they saw what would eventually total more than 210 animals
as a result pursell and classmate jessica olivarez who were assigned to the large animal operation didnt have time for an orientation when they arrived in eastland
everything was happening superfast olivarez said we basically dropped our bags off and headed out to the first set of coordinates and didnt come back until after dark
the large animal response a priority for the vet because of the large amounts of cattle in the region faced a number of obstacles including the ongoing wildfires with the smoky conditions making it difficult for teams on the ground to see they had to rely on aerial spotters looking for signs of live animals
because the fires spread so quickly many residents were left with little time to organize evacuations of livestock animals so the scenes that awaited the vet were devastating
it was incredibly sad so we had to focus on what we could do to help olivarez said
it was a tough assignment even for an experienced veterinarian like dr laurie shelton who has volunteered on several vet deployments
sunday was a rough day she said but the students rallied they got dirty with the rest of us they were willing to do some really hard work i think they grew a lot as veterinarians in just a few hours and showed a ton of resilience
at one location olivarez and pursell helped deliver a healthy calf but even while olivarez was treating it a small fire crept toward her pursell went for help and the fire was put out
the calf was later evacuated to a safe location where the owner plans to bottle feed it
shelton said that during a tough deployment one thing might happen to give you hope and that the students found that in the calf they later named smoky
that calf was kind of a survivor story; it really helped them rally and be ok shelton said even with a lot going wrong there are still good outcomes we can focus on
as difficult as it was olivarez and pursell said they wished they could have stayed out longer
we were out until it was dark pursell said that was tough too because you want to keep goingyou want to keep helpingbut when the sun is going down youre in danger because of the fires so its just not safe to stay
fourth-year student matthew lewis wasnt even supposed to deploy during his clinical rotation with the vet recovering from meniscus surgery and on crutches lewis and vet leadership had decided on his first day that if a deployment came he was going to stay home
however as the week progressed lewis kept up with the news because his hometown of brownwood was in the affected area he even sent screenshots of the news to the other students saying the fire looked like the kind of event the vet would be activated for
the texts proved prescient; less than 12 hours later the team was activated and with the vet headed near his hometown lewis couldnt sit it out
even if i couldnt really do anything i wanted to be able to see the response up close he said i really wish i couldve done more i had been trying to stay updated on what parts of the community were affected and where the fires were starting its intense and it hits close to home luckily my family wasnt in the path but i know a lot of people who were
lewis was assigned to the small animal operation with classmate samantha lowrey and they too faced their own challenges
we saw a dog from a couple who had barely escaped their home lowrey said they lost four dogs but they found this fifth one he had some burns but we were able to patch him up they were afraid they werent going to be able to afford medical treatment or find someone to take care of the dog but we were able to help them even if its only a small help
what seems like a small help is often actually a huge help which is one of the defining traits of the vet according director dr wesley bissett
i always tell our team and our students that youre often seeing someone on their very worst day he said if you can make that worst day even a little bit better if you can give them that little bit of hope it can make a big difference
along with treating household pets for burns the students also helped care for and prepare the search and rescue dogs deployed in the area through things such as bandaging their paws which was especially important because of hot spots on the ground or areas where fire may still have been burning
when the initial call came it didnt take long for the students to say yes and now that the deployment is over they have a much deeper understanding of how emergency response works
one of the reasons a lot of us go into veterinary medicine is because we want to help people and our communities lowrey said when you see a disaster happening you want to help however you can this deployment has given me a much deeper understanding of how exactly that happens and an understanding of why systems are in place if you dont know the system you can actually do a lot more harm than good
lowrey also said her time with the vet gave her a deeper appreciation for being an aggie because of how involved different texas a&m entities are in disaster response
im an aggie my parents are aggies and even i didnt realize how involved texas a&m was in emergency response she said you get here and theres texas a&m agrilife extension helping organize emergency food for livestock the texas a&m forest service providing the fire containment updates and more you really see how deeply texas a&m is involved in helping the state of texas
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a five-year grant of more than $12 million from the national institutes of health (nih) will promote diversity in the field of neuroscience by supporting diverse research-intensive communities at texas a&m university
the grant will be used to create a neuroscience research leadership program modeled on the successful aggie research program (arp) dr christopher quick a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and executive director of the arp will be leading the program along with dr mike smotherman a professor in the texas a&m department of biology and chair of the texas a&m institute for neuroscience
this grant is trying to fill a very important need in the biomedical sciencestheres a lack of diversity and its one of those really tough problems to solve quick said the value of it is very clear in terms of being able to capture all of the perspectives that people come in with that can change not only how people do research but what they do research on
the grant will fund three postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented backgrounds each year who will each mentor a community of 12 graduate students because each of these graduate students leads a research team of four undergraduate students in the five years of funding the grant will provide opportunities for approximately 15 postdocs 180 graduate students and 720 undergraduates as they perform neuroscience research
at texas a&m neuroscience is not a single department but a multidisciplinary program that includes faculty and students from eight colleges; this aspect according to quick means the program is already set up to embrace diversity at texas a&m
this is a very different approach to creating a diversity program its promoting diversity by expanding opportunities for everyone and tearing down barriers that impact some more than others quick said postdocs from underrepresented groups will be in charge of things and theyll be creating opportunities theyll be models not just for other underrepresented folk but for everyone
the widely popular arp was created by quick in 2016 to prepare graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for the leadership roles they will play in the next stage of their careers
this is a very different approach to creating a diversity program its promoting diversity by expanding opportunities for everyone and tearing down barriers that impact some more than others
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quick discovered that the arp model not only increased the number of undergraduate research opportunities but also diversity on research teams
in the aggie research program 41% of our undergrads are from underrepresented groups that 41% precisely matches the percentage of our undergrads at texas a&m who are from an underrepresented group quick said
by opening the neuroscience research program to undergraduate and graduate students from all units across the university he expects to see a similar level of underrepresented student participation
funding for the first group of postdocs has already begun and quick and smotherman plan to continue to expand the program by creating a graduate-level class on teaching and leading inclusive research teams
the graduate students could start off with a class on how to teach course-based undergraduate research experience or cure to figure out how to do this quick said the number of leadership opportunities this program will create is expected to be large and the number of undergrad research opportunities is expected to be very large thats whats exciting for me
the postdocs who are funded by the grant will also serve as directors to learn how to run the program a skill they can then take with them to other universities and institutions
by helping lead successful diverse research teams they will also experience the value of diversity first-hand and take that knowledge with them into their future careers
everyone here has something inherently different and unique about themselves they have something to offer and when we work together we can solve problems we couldnt solve by ourselves quick said the totality of each individuals needs perspectives background skills and goals makes a research team more productive
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
fourteen members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) deployed to eastland county over the weekend to assist with relief efforts associated with the eastland complex fire a collective term for seven wildfires burning in north central texas near the towns of carbon rising star and gorman
team members joined by texas a&m agrilife extension disaster assessment and recovery (dar) agents are supporting those efforts in several ways including responding to animal emergencies in the field but the teams first priority is to provide veterinary medical support for local residents according to vet director dr wesley bissett
the local communities have done a great job coming together in a tough situation but these fires are impacting a very large area so veterinary resources are stretched thin said bissett who also serves as an associate professor of emergency management in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) trying to figure out where we can best assist has been our priority in the first 48 hours
while the fires have consumed more than 54 000 acres as of march 21 rain in the area on monday could not only aid firefighting efforts but also give residents and first responders a much-needed chance to further assess the situation
this has been a rapidly evolving situation; prior to the rain there were a number of new fires developing so its been difficult to properly assess the whole picture bissett said hopefully the rain will help calm down the situation some and we can get a better grasp on the extent of services needed
so far the vet has responded to several animal field emergencies and has cared for animals at their base of operations in eastland
for the field calls the team is aided by aerial surveillance coordinated with the texas a&m agrilife extension service texas animal health commission and the texas and southwestern cattle raisers association (tscra) special rangers
spotters in helicopters identify potential areas in need of veterinary assistance relay the coordinates to the teams on the ground and then those teams work with the tscra rangers to get access to those locations
the aerial assessments were new for us bissett said but it really helped us quickly identify where to allocate our people to have the greatest impact on animal well-being
the team also anticipates seeing more small animal cases as those animals come out of hiding
the vet is also helping care for search and rescue dogs a process that includes bandaging the feet of the dogs before they go out into the field and monitoring their condition while theyre working and at the end of their shifts
just yesterday we had three new fires pop up so were making sure those dogs are taken care of and in top condition when and where theyre needed bissett said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university interim provost and executive vice president dr timothy p scott has announced the extension of dr john august as dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs)
with the approval of texas a&m university system chancellor john sharp august will serve as the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine through aug 31 2025
a recent survey of the faculty and staff indicated a clear majority and a high level of support that he continue as dean scott said in an email to cvmbs faculty and staff
since his appointment as cvmbs dean in september 2020 august has focused on supporting faculty staff and student success by fostering an environment of collaboration and facilitating open discussion
among his priorities have been overseeing the implementation of the 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program through the colleges veterinary education research & outreach (vero) initiative in canyon; creating opportunities in mcallen through texas a&ms higher education center and partnerships in the rio grande valley; and developing plans for a new next-generation small animal teaching hospital
in addition hes worked to nurture and strengthen relationships across campus in the veterinary profession and with industries across the state through the colleges research initiatives and service efforts
returning to the college has been almost like coming to a new college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences he said there were new buildings a new curriculum new faces new expectations new challenges and new opportunitiesit really wasnt like coming back to the same college of veterinary medicine i left
i learned a lot as the dean of faculties i learned a lot as interim dean in the school of public health and i want to make sure i dont waste those experiences in helping to guide and strengthen our college he said
august joined texas a&m as professor and head of the department of small animal medicine and surgery in 1986 since then he has served as interim dean of the school of public health and as dean of faculties and associate provost
august earned a bachelors degree in veterinary medicine from the royal veterinary college at the university of london in england (equivalent to a dvm) he completed his internship and residency in small animal surgery and medicine at auburn university where he also earned his master of science degree from the college of veterinary medicine he is a diplomate of the american college of veterinary internal medicine
prior to his appointment as dean of faculties and associate provost august served texas a&m as interim associate dean for clinical and outreach programs interim head of the department of veterinary pathobiology and deputy dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences an internationally noted clinician scientist he was selected as the evelyn williams endowed visiting professor at the university of sydney in 2014
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
battling a fake wildfire and the real cold 50 texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) students staff and faculty practiced caring for animals in emergency situtions during the 14th annual disaster day on feb 25
after the 2021 event was moved online due to the covid-19 pandemic this years in-person exercise at the texas a&m engineering extension services (teex) disaster city included more than 750 students from several texas a&m colleges
student actors complete with makeup to simulate injuries were given victim roles that require responses from the various participating groups some also had pets played by stuffed animals that needed treatment for a variety of injuries
in addition to the veterinary students this years exercise included students from the texas a&m colleges of nursing medicine and pharmacy; the school of public health; as well as students in the department of psychological and brain sciences athletic trainers and members of the corps of cadets
most of the veterinary student participants were members of the student veterinary response team (svrt) in their first three years of veterinary school danielle johnson the third-year svrt representative worked with the students from the other disciplines to plan the exercise
its a big undertaking she said weve been planning it for two semesters its interesting to work with the other disciplines and see how we can all work together its fun but its definitely stressful
the veterinary response part of the exercise utilized mobile medical platforms and the disaster response experience of the veterinary emergency team (vet) to make the cases as realistic as possible the medical platforms also allowed the students to work in a controlled environment on a day where the temperature never got above 40 degrees
this years simulated disaster was a wildfire which is a scenario the vet has actually responded to multiple times the simulated cases range from burns and smoke inhalation to underlying medical problems that could be worsened by the stress and anxiety of the situation
johnson said the experience was valuable for veterinary students who hope to one day be able to assist their communities when disaster strikes
if youre interested in helping your community in a disaster you have to know how to work within the system this is a good place to practice that she said i feel like if i were to get deployed to a real disaster id have a much better idea of how to work within the response system
fourth-year students on the vet clinical rotation learn even more about the protocols for disaster response which is why students like eli hernandez served as team leaders guiding the svrt students through the process
our role is in facilitating the discussions and taking the knowledge weve learned on this rotation to help the first through third years follow the path of how to manage these cases when you have limited resources and limited space he said
hernandez said one of the priorities is to help students understand the importance of good medical records in disaster scenarios
thats a big part of the teaching out here for students who havent done an exercise before he said even though its a disaster situation and almost all of the cases are emergency cases you still have to record everything that youve done all of that important information is still required
both hernandez and johnson said it was a valuable experience and encouraged students to take part in the next years disaster day
i had some anxiety about it especially leading a team because i didnt come out and do this my earlier years hernandez said but its been a really good time its really good information to know because theres much more to it than just learning how to treat small animal cases
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr stephen safe a distinguished professor of toxicology in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary physiology and pharmacology (vtpp) was recently named a fellow by the american association for the advancement of science (aaas) the worlds largest general scientific society
he will be inducted during the associations annual meeting this week in philadelphia
safe was chosen for the honor for his distinguished contributions to the scientific knowledge used to advance the safe use of chemicals in commerce and the development of more effective and safe pharmaceuticals according to the aaas announcement
being inducted as an aaas fellow is a tremendous achievement and we are extremely proud of dr safe and the meaningful research that he continues to do said dr john august cvmbs dean dr safe is an exceptional scientist and mentor and his commitment to innovation and scientific discovery make him truly deserving of this recognition
in addition his leadership of the next generation of researchers ensures his work will continue to have a measurable impact on the medical field and pharmaceutical industry for decades to come
safes research has focused on creating medical compounds to treat or cure cancers some of which have been licensed by pharmaceutical companies
in the search for cures and treatments safes research has often led him into unexpected new areas he attributes much of his success to being willing to follow those paths as they unfolded even if they werent his area of expertise at the start
as a result of this open-minded approach he has more than a dozen patents or patent applications on these compounds and their applications one of these cancer-treating compounds was also found to be effective for treating endometriosis a common gynecological condition
in addition through his lab the molecular & cellular oncology laboratory safe has mentored almost 100 phd students 18 master of science graduate students and more than 20 postdoctoral fellows and has been recognized for his skills in guiding his students in their own search for treatments and cures
he also has previously been honored by and lectured at universities across the united states canada and the united kingdom and has received numerous awards for research teaching and service most recently he was selected as a 2019 merit award winner by the society of toxicology and in 2020 he was recognized for his mentorship with a distinguished achievement award by the association of former students at texas a&m overall his work has been cited more than 87 000 times with an h-index of 138
safe received his undergraduate and master of science degrees at queens university in canada received his phd from oxford university and completed his postdoctoral work at harvard before joining texas a&m in 1981
dr stephen safes 2021 aaas fellows classmates include 563 scientists engineers and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines including six others from texas a&m
this is a significant milestone congratulations to each for receiving this high honor interim vice president for research jack g baldauf said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when henry arrived at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) small animal teaching hospital (sath) with a mysterious condition his local veterinarians and specialists couldnt solve the hospitals new interventional radiology service came to the rescue with a diagnosis and treatment that saved the 7-year-old schnauzer mixs life
henry has lived with owner jordan johnson and her family since he was found wandering the streets of houston following hurricane harvey in 2017
within two days of fostering him we knew we wanted to keep him and that he was meant to be with our family johnson said hes just so sweet and a great dog; hes very loving and cuddly sometimes i joke that we shouldve named him shadow because hes black and is like our little shadow following us everywhere
henry was a healthy and happy dog for about four years but in april 2021 johnson noticed a strange swelling in his abdomen
from april to october we kept trying to figure out what was going on with his bloated belly running all of these tests but we could not find out what was wrong she said ive never quite been through something like that i felt like i was watching him die and feeling so powerless he kept losing weight and we kept trying everything and striking out
having already seen multiple veterinarians including an internal medicine specialist in austin johnson knew that henrys referral to texas a&m was most likely his last chance to find out what was wrong
at the sath henrys care team used every tool at its disposal to discover the cause of the fluid collecting in his abdomen a condition known as ascites
the hospitals new interventional radiology service established early last year had the perfect team of problem-solving veterinary specialists including cvmbs clinical assistant professor dr genna atiee and second-year internal medicine residents drs jeremy evans and michael hung
when i met henry i fell in love with him he is such a cute dog and i felt so sorry for his owner who was clearly very dedicated atiee said his case felt like a roller coasterhighs and lows throughout
after even more tests that failed to discover the problem the team connected with veterinary cardiologists drs ashley saunders and sonya wesselowski to take a more detailed look at henrys heart and vessels in the hospitals catheterization lab
saunders and wesselowski performed an angiogram a procedure that uses an injected contrast dye to show how blood is flowing through the arteries and veins
its like x-ray but in real time saunders said when you press a pedal you can see what youre doing in the heart because the catheters and contrast are radiopaque (visible in a radiographic image like an x-ray)
they discovered that henrys inferior/caudal vena cava the large vein that carries blood from the legs and abdominal cavity into the heart was compressed causing fluid to collect in his abdomen the vein was so narrow that blood could barely get through; as a result blood was also building up in henrys liver and other abdominal organs
although the team was not sure what had caused the vein compression they knew that relieving it was vital for henrys survival in the months since his ascites began he had lost a lot of muscle mass and was getting worse every day
after discussing henrys condition with his owner and taking time to carefully determine the best treatment option they decided to try using a metal stent spanning from the superior/cranial vena cava through the heart and out with the inferior vena cava to widen the vein and improve blood flow
we decided to go forward with the procedure because we couldnt imagine not having henry and not doing everything we possibly could to save him johnson said it was a little nerve-wracking not knowing if it was going to work or how much time it was going to give him
while much of the procedure could be planned in advance some decisions would have to wait until the operation was in progress a risky but necessary aspect of working in such a small delicate area
his was a complex case because of the location of his problem saunders said you dont know about pressures and flow until you get in there so we used catheters to deliver contrast and check pressures and measurements; we then made decisions about the best thing to do based on the information we had
thanks to the team of veterinarians veterinary technicians and anesthesiologists who gathered for henrys procedure the stent was successfully deployed and soon began to relieve the ascites
i was really proud of the team who was in the catheterization lab making intra-operation decisions atiee said it was a very challenging procedure but everyone was really collegial we truly worked as a team with the common goal of helping this dog
now several months later henry is active and healthy with no signs of the ascites returning
were so grateful that he is his normal selfeating running around and not showing any symptoms of discomfort johnson said hes happy and just acting like a normal dog with no limitations from his procedure its a huge relief like an emotional weight off my chest
were also grateful for the dedication of such a great team at a&m she said they were really dedicated to doing the best they could and utilized so many different team members and doctors to figure out what was going on we couldnt have asked for a better outcome
those at texas a&m agree that henrys case perfectly represents how important collaboration is in handling challenging cases
after i spoke with his owner after the procedure i felt beyond relievedexuberant in fact atiee said i took a moment to recognize how thankful i was to be part of such an amazing team to have had the opportunity to work with such a cool dog to have worked with his owner who trusted us and allowed us to do this despite no guarantees and to know that henry was thriving it was a really great moment
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for twin sisters michelle and vicky le when it comes to texas a&m universitys core values there is one that resonates with them more than any other: selfless service the texas a&m freshmen never hesitate when the chance to volunteer their time for a greater cause presents itself and they are quick to step up
the sisters who are first generation students and regents scholars regularly volunteered at the flu vaccination clinics held in the fall and continue to selflessly give their time at the covid-19 vaccination clinics held for students faculty and staff this spring
out of all of the texas a&m core values i think selfless service is the one that i most easily identify with said michelle who is a freshman at the school of public health i love volunteering and it is what i choose to do in my free time
i think it is a better way to spend my free time instead of on social media tiktok or youtube it is a great way to serve your community and not only does it better your community but you get to better yourself
since october the sisters have worked at more than 10 clinics on campus and throughout the community assisting with setting up and breaking down the vaccination sites registration scribing and other logistics
they are both amazingly quick learners and their presence at each clinic has helped us improve clinic flow said christine l kaunas edd mph executive director for interprofessional education & research at texas a&m health they truly have been instrumental to the success of these clinics
according to vicky who is majoring in biomedical sciences at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences when michelle received an email asking for volunteers for the flu clinics the sisters immediately signed up and not just for one shift
we saw it as a really great opportunity and we said we were going to sign up for every shift vicky said we didnt realize that everyone else wouldnt do the same thing the staff working those clinics noticed that we were there regularly and when it came time for the covid clinics it was short notice but they knew they had two very dependable volunteers so they asked us to help
the staff at the clinics got to know us very well michelle added
michell and vicky grew up in the houston suburb of alief where they say they saw the struggles associated with the lack of convenient and affordable access to health care including among their own family the disparities they saw stuck with the pair and in turn fueled their desire to pursue a career in the medical field
alief is actually designated as a medically underserved population michelle said we grew up seeing a lot of our friends and family facing the realities of living in a medically underserved community i see people like my parents refuse medical treatment and refuse medical advice simply because the cost is too much it really negatively impacts the community and we both grew up knowing we would end up in health care wanting to serve and give back to our community
michelle said she chose public health because she wants to serve the community and not just individual patients vicky meanwhile decided to pursue her degree in biomedical sciences because it is geared toward people going into the medical field and provides great research opportunities
while the sisters may have selected different majors they said there was no doubt they would end up going to school together and that texas a&m would be the university where they would work to fulfill their career aspirations
i didnt see us going separate ways michelle said whenever opportunities like this come up i always tell her were both always in it together we pretty much knew we were going to end up here it is a great school and we wouldnt want to be anywhere else
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the dog aging project team outlines how the open-source data it is gathering could be useful for myriad studies
in 2018 the dog aging project set out to become the largest research data-gathering program of its kind seeking to enroll and study tens of thousands of dogs from all backgrounds to gain a better understanding of canine aging and what contributes to a long and healthy life for a dog
following their launch researchers at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) the university of washington (uw) school of medicine and a dozen other partner institutions began to enroll companion dogs who will be followed over at least 10 years to date more than 32 000 dogs have been enrolled
in a feb 2 publication in the journal nature the researchers have detailed the methodology of their project and its potential implications on both human and veterinary medicine
it is an honor to share our work with the scientific community said dr kate creevy lead author dog aging project chief veterinary officer and cvmbs professor of small animal internal medicine the dog aging project is creating a resource with the power to transform veterinary medicine aging research and many scientific and non-scientific fields of inquiry publication of our methodology in nature provides testament to the ambitious scope and wide applicability of the project
their article an open science study of ageing in companion dogs explores the hows and whys of the study from the recruitment and assignment of dogs into various cohorts to the means of data collection and managing a team that spans the united states it also discusses the ethical legal and social implications and anticipated scientific findings
the scientific objectives of this study are to identify the genetic environmental and lifestyle factors that influence aging in dogs to discover the underlying molecular mechanisms by which they do so and to test potential ways to increase the duration of healthy lifespan in dogs the authors wrote
to accomplish these goals the scientists are working with dog owners who periodically fill out surveys and take measurements of their dogs for the duration of the project; some also may be asked to collect cheek swabs for dna sampling
in addition the research team is working with veterinarians across the country who assist by submitting fur fecal urine and blood samples of select enrolled participants
among the specific aims for the project are to identify biomarkers of canine aging with the intent of better understanding the mechanisms by which genetic environmental and lifestyle variation influence aging; they also will use genomic sequencing to analyze the genetic architecture of age-related traits in dogs
given that dogs share the human environment and have a sophisticated health care system but are much shorter-lived than people they offer a unique opportunity to identify the genetic environmental and lifestyle factors associated with healthy lifespan said dr daniel promislow principal investigator for the national institute on aging grant that funds the project promislow is a professor of biology at the uw college of arts and sciences and of laboratory medicine and pathology at the uw school of medicine
a key component of the project is a clinical trial of a drug called rapamycin an immunosuppressive medication that has been used in humans for decades at lower doses rapamycin has been shown to increase lifespan improve heart and cognitive function and reduce age-related disease incidence in laboratory species
the dog aging project team believes rapamycin may provide similar benefits to middle-aged large-breed dogs and are collaborating with veterinarians at universities across the country to evaluate the drugs effectiveness on hundreds of clinical trial participants
ultimately the varied rich and complex data collected by the dap will allow the team to characterize aging in companion dogs metrics for which do not currently exist they also believe their study will lay the groundwork for canine-specific gerontology field of veterinary medicine
while human studies have clear metrics for healthy aging including age-related changes in frailty and multimorbidity among others relatively little is known about what constitutes normative aging in dogs creevy said our data will give veterinarians and scientists the tools to assess how well a specific dog is aging and set the stage for studies on the determinants of normative aging
because the project is an open-data study scientists around the world and from many different fields will have access to the massive amount of data generated as well as the opportunity to contribute to the study in a variety of ways based on their interests for example the second author on the nature paper is noted canine and archiac human genome science researcher joshua akey of princeton university
this publication today in nature is important because it lets the scientific community better understand the scope and data that will be generated in this highly interdisciplinary endeavor akey said for example we are generating one of the most comprehensive catalogs of canine genomic variation which will not only provide insights into the genetic determinants of aging but can also be leveraged to learn more about the evolutionary history of domesticated dogs and how humans shaped canine genetic variation through artificial selection
the dog aging project is supported by u19 grant ag057377 from the national institute on aging a part of the national institutes of health and by private donations
for more information or to learn how people can enroll their dog to participate in the ongoing project visit https://dogagingprojectorg
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; leila gray uw medicine 2064759809 leilag@uwedu; liz fuller-wright princeton lizfw@princetonedu
prenatal visits have traditionally focused almost exclusively on the behavior of mothers but new research from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) continues to suggest that science should be looking more closely at the fathers behavior as well
dr michael golding an associate professor in the cvmbs department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) has spent years investigating the fathers role specifically as it relates to drugs and alcohol in fetal development
golding says a number of publications have shown that males pass down more than just their genetics but exactly how that process works and the consequences of it remain largely unknown
when you look at the data from throughout human history theres clear evidence that theres something beyond just genetics being inherited from the male golding said so if that data is solid weve got to start looking more at male behavior
say you had a parent who was exposed to starvationthey could pass on what you might call a ‘thriftiness where their kids can derive more nutrition from less food he said that could be a positive if they grow up in a similar environment or they could grow up in a time when starvation isnt an issue and they might be more prone to obesity or metabolic syndromes that kind of data is clearly present in clinical data from humans
goldings study of how things beyond genes such as behavior and environment affect development is called epigenetics and one of the big questions in the search for answers on how male prenatal behavior can impact fetal growth has been how exactly these epigenetic factors manifest
now there is at least one answer
in a november publication in the faseb journal goldings team showed that the epigenetic factor of prenatal exposure to alcohol in males can manifest in the placenta
according to kara thomas vtpp graduate student and the lead author on the paper their data shows that in mice offspring of fathers exposed to alcohol have a number of placenta-related difficulties including increased fetal growth restriction enlarged placentas and decreased placental efficiency
the placenta supplies nutrients to the growing fetus so fetal growth restriction can be attributed to a less efficient placenta this is why placental efficiency is such an important metric; it tells us how many grams of fetus are produced per gram of placenta thomas said with paternal alcohol exposure placentas become overgrown as they try to compensate for their inefficiency in delivering nutrients to the fetus
however the mystery also deepened
while these increases happened frequently in male offspring the frequency varied greatly based on the mom; however the same increases were far less frequent in female offspring golding believes this suggests that although that information is passed from the father the mothers genetics and the offsprings sex also play a role
this is a novel observation because it says that theres some complexity here golding said yes men can pass things on to their offspring beyond just genetics but the moms genetics can interpret those epigenetic factors differently and that ultimately changes the way that the placenta behaves
these results dont draw a clear line in how human male drinking prior to conception impacts fetal development but they continue to at least point to it being a question that needs to be explored
golding is hoping that soon doctors and society at large will begin to ask more questions about male prenatal behavior so that theres more data from which to work
the thing that i want to ultimately change is this stigma surrounding the development of birth defects golding said theres information coming through in sperm that is going to impact the offspring but is not tied to the genetic code; its in your epigenetic code and this is highly susceptible to environmental exposures so the birth defects that we see might not be the mothers fault; they might be the fathers or both equally
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a new study by texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has revealed that captive white-tailed deer in texas are susceptible to sars-cov-2 the virus that causes covid-19 with over 90% of the captive deer at one facility testing positive for the virus the authors indicate their findings likely reflect deer-to-deer transmission
the research team led by cvmbs associate professor of epidemiology dr sarah hamer has been investigating how animals are involved in the transmission of sars-cov-2 since early days of the pandemic in summer 2020 their initial work detailed infections in about a quarter of the dogs and cats that lived in households with infected owners in central texas and led to questions about other animals that interact with humans
additionally work conducted last year by the us department of agricultures animal and plant health inspection service aphis showed free-ranging white-tailed deer populations across illinois michigan new york and pennsylvania had produced sars-cov-2 antibodies which indicated they had been exposed to covid
the research team then developed collaborations for a study on captive white-tail deer in texas focused on animal health and the potential for viral transmission from infected animals to other animals
hamer principal investigator for the new study said since free-ranging white-tailed deer with evidence of sars-cov-2 infection have been found in several states now including texas it was important to understand how the risk to captive deer may be similar or different
these studies open our eyes to a less ‘human-centric perspective on covid transmission and to the need to investigate potential animal reservoirs for the disease she said
white-tailed deer have been shown to be susceptible to sars-cov-2 because their ace2 or angiotensin converting enzyme 2 which is where the virus attaches is very similar to that of humans said dr terry hensley assistant agency director for diagnostic services with the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) bryan-college station
however while the white-tailed deer in the usda study were able to be infected with sars- cov-2 then shed the virus and infect other deer in the study they did not develop any observable clinical illness from the virus he said we still have a lot to learn concerning sars-cov-2 and wildlife
the texas a&m study which involved graduate student postdoctoral faculty and veterinarian researchers involved the use of plaque reduction neutralization assays to test for sars-cov-2 antibodies in 80 deer at three captive cervid facilities in central and south texas and additional work is ongoing
samples were tested in a tvmdl biosafety level 3 laboratory
the level of infection we detected which was more than 90% of the tested captive deer at one facility cannot be explained by human contact alone said hamer who also oversees a research laboratory focused on the ecology evolution and epidemiology of vector-borne wildlife and zoonotic diseases using field-based studies and molecular tools
only a subset of the deer that tested seropositive had close or direct contact with humans she explained while there may have been some initial human-to-deer transmission of the virus the vast majority of transmission at that facility appears to have been from deer to deer
hamer also noted the prevalence of covid-positive deer in the one texas facility was more than double the amount reported in recent studies of wild deer populations in texas and some northern states
the study will help researchers better understand the interaction between humans and wild and/or managed animals and the virus hamer said she added that study results may be especially applicable in facilities where wildlife is actively managed and fed through human contact
this information could be useful not only to captive cervid facilities but also zoos and other locations where animals are in close contact with humans and are at a much closer distance from one another than what would be normal for them in the wild hamer said its also important that we understand transmission among captive cervids and other managed animals so we can get a better picture of their role in the occurrence of sars-cov-2
the study confirmed white-tailed deer typically do not get symptoms of sars-cov-2 but are easily able to contract and transmit the disease said dr walter cook a study co-author wildlife veterinarian and cvmbs clinical associate professor other study co-authors from the college included doctoral students chase nunez and logan thomas
cook said other studies have shown certain wildlife to be susceptible to the virus and what they learned in the new study could help in better understanding how they may transmit the disease
previous studies have shown domestic animals such as dogs and house cats can also contract the sars-cov-2 virus as a result of contact with infected humans hamer was also principal investigator in a texas a&m-led study in march of last year that for the first time worldwide detected the united kingdom variant of sars-cov-2 in a dog and a cat from the same household in texas
the new study will be helpful toward finding out whether there might be onward transmission from infected animals to animals of the same or a different species–or possibly back to people
hamer said vaccine manufacturers have already created veterinary vaccines for animals that are being used in some zoo environments to protect animals shown to develop disease when infected
if we find that infection will endanger the life of animals or if animals can readily spread the virus to humans then there will be lots of motivation to also consider widespread vaccination of target animals against sars-cov-2 she said but this is not the situation and the most impact right now will be from vaccinating people
this story was modified from paul schattenbergs original article examining the research and possible implications for deer hunters
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the dog aging project a scientific initiative to help companion dogs and people live longer healthier lives together has received a $25 million pledge from a consortium of tech entrepreneurs
the dog aging project brings together a community of dogs owners veterinarians researchers and volunteers to carry out the largest canine health study in the world the donation will expand this research into longevity science
the donors include brian armstrong coinbase founder and ceo; peter attia physician; juan benet protocol labs founder and ceo; fred erhsam co-founder of paradigm and coinbase; adam fisher of bessemer venture partners; author tim ferriss and the saisei foundation; jed mccaleb stellar co-founder and cto and founder of the astera institute; and food author darya rose and internet entrepreneur kevin rose
the dog aging project has two fundamental goals: first to understand how genes lifestyle and environment influence aging; and second to intervene to increase healthspan the period of life spent free from disease discoveries made by the dog aging project could be translatable to people
more than 32 000 companion dogs and their owners are already part of the dog aging project all the dogs live and play at home with their families most of these dogs participate in the observational longitudinal study of aging each dog owner completes extensive surveys about the health and life experience of their dog through a secure research portal this information is paired with comprehensive environmental genetic and biochemical data to yield insights about aging
in addition the dog aging project is conducting a double-blind placebo controlled veterinary clinical trial of the medicine rapamycin which at low doses has been shown to extend lifespan in laboratory animals the trial is called triad an acronym for test of rapamycin in aging dogs
the $25 million in new funding provided by the consortium of donors will go directly to scientific research this support will allow the dog aging project to expand the triad trial to include more study locations and to increase the number of dogs enrolled in triad
targeting biological aging is 21st century medicine with the potential to greatly enhance healthy longevity for both people and our pets said dr matt kaeberlein co-director of the dog aging project triad will provide the first clinical evaluation of an intervention that may increase lifespan and healthspan from this approach this generous donation will greatly accelerate our research and bring us closer to this goal kaeberlein is a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the university of washington school of medicine
all dogs in the united states excluding territories are welcome to join the dog aging project observational study participating dogs can be young or old mixed breed or purebred those in good health and those with chronic health conditions people can enroll their dog at wwwdogagingprojectorg to be eligible for triad owners must complete all surveys upload veterinary medical records and be willing to travel to one of the participating clinical sites where their dog will be screened for disqualifying health conditions
led by scientists at the university of washington and texas a&m university the research team includes more than 70 researchers and veterinarians from over 20 academic institutions around the country this is an open science project the data collected by the dog aging project will be made available to researchers around the world via terra a cloud computing platform hosted by the broad institute of mit and harvard in addition biological samples will be banked at the dog aging project biobank housed at the cornell university veterinary biobank
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researchers from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program recently shared 12 abstracts detailing their work on topics ranging from common diseases in feedlot cattle to the calf microbiome during the conference of research workers in animal diseases
the team of four faculty members one postdoctoral researcher and five students participated in the conference held dec 5-7 in chicago to present on the food animal research happening at vero which has the potential to greatly benefit the global feedlot industry
the presentations by vero faculty and students at the conference of research workers in animal disease are exemplary of the ground-breaking ongoing in the vero research program said dr susan eades vero associate dean for administration drs (paul) morley (sarah) capik (matthew) scott and (robert) valeris-chacin each bring a specific expertise to this strong research team that leverages collaborations across the texas a&m system texas a&m agrilife and regional partnerships the team is active in projects that will enhance cattle health and increase sustainability of cattle industries
all of the presentations were truly excellent and i could not be prouder of our body of work and the great representation by the speakers said dr paul morley vero director for food animal research all of this work was dependent upon active collaborations among scientists from texas a&m university west texas a&m university (wt) texas a&m agrilife multiple other universities and a large number regional stakeholders so it truly represents the spirit that we are working to grow in the vero partnership
two of the research abstracts were presented by dr matthew scott an assistant professor of microbial ecology and infectious disease at vero who is actively studying bovine respiratory disease (brd) the leading disease complex in cattle
during the conference he discussed his findings on the disease which included new methods for predicting brd before clinical signs appear
in his first project scott used digital mrna profiling to analyze the individual gene expression levels for seven populations of healthy cattle he was able to determine with 90% accuracy genomic patterns found in animals that would go on to develop severe brd and require multiple antibiotic treatments
scotts second project created a computational network to identify co-expressed genes that are highly associated with brd development and already active when the cattle arrive at a new facility
both of these projects were funded by the us department of agricultures national institute for food and agriculture
were very excited about the findings of these projects and are using them as a foundation for future studies that will hopefully provide a method or test that can predict disease on a herd-by-herd basis scott said
the conference was a great opportunity for students to practice presenting their research in an academic setting two of the students who attended the conference also received awards for their abstracts
taylor mcatee a wt masters student and graduate research assistant in morleys lab received the first place oral presentation award from the american college of veterinary microbiologists (acvm) for her research on the respiratory microbiome of cattle and the fecal microbiome of pre-weaned dairy calves
maggie murphy a wt phd student working in morleys lab received a crwad travel award for her research on the cattle microbiome and how it is impacted by antimicrobial drugs
beyond vero many other members of the cvmbs attended the conference including senior professor dr garry adams who was invited to give a keynote lecture as the acvms distinguished veterinary microbiologist of 2021
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four faculty members at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) were honored with awards during the colleges annual holiday party on dec 14
dr kenita rogers was named professor emerita and the association of former students at texas a&m university recognized three faculty members with college-level teaching awards for their talent expertise and devotion to creating an outstanding learning environment for students
the association awards were presented by director of campus programs kelli hutka ‘97 to dr raquel rech clinical associate professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb); dr jay griffin associate professor in the department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs); and dr timothy phillips professor in the department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs)
these awards recognize encourage and reward superior classroom teachers said cvmbs dean dr john august
throughout her career at the cvmbs rogers was known as a leader a champion for diversity and wellness initiatives and an outstanding clinician
i have known dr rogers for a very long time august said she has done so many things to help our collegei think first and mostly as a role model then as an oncologist an extraordinary teacher a confidant and a mentor
rogers retired earlier this year but has continued to contribute to the cvmbs in a part-time role her efforts as leader of the cvmbs office of diversity & inclusion were instrumental in the college receiving five consecutive higher education excellence in diversity (heed) awards
being a professor emerita is an extraordinary privilege august said its being honored by ones peers for a job well done over a very extensive career
rech was nominated for being according to a nominator one of the most compassionate and thoughtful individuals i have ever met
as an instructor in the fourth-year diagnostics clinical rotation and a pathology course veterinary students take in the first and second years rech handles students who are sometimes apprehensive about pathology by putting them at ease and making learning fun according to one nominator
she is very good at detecting problems students are having and anticipating challenges they will face even if they are reluctant to discuss their issues openly the nominator said she is a strong student advocate always putting their needs at the forefront
rech was previously recognized by the american college of veterinary pathologists as mentor of the year in 2020
an expert in diagnostic imaging griffin is known by his students for going above and beyond their expectations
not only have i learned the important concepts of veterinary radiology from dr griffins lectures but having worked through dozens and dozens of his real-life examples i genuinely feel confident and excited about reading radiographs out in the real world of clinical practice one nominator said
the student went on to say that griffins instruction has been so impactful that they have chosen to take an additional radiology rotation in their fourth year after previously having only a small interest in radiology
another student said that griffin is a friendly face who always takes the time to keep the students involved while performing ultrasounds on patients
radiology is no doubt a very challenging subject for vet students to grasp but i can speak for myself and my classmates when i say that we were always grateful to study and learn from his classes the student said
a professor of toxicology phillips was called an extraordinary educator who teaches his students with unparalleled passion and profound wisdom
phillips serves on the executive committee for the interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology and has been recognized in the past with a translational impact award from the society of toxicology for his work on improving public health
one nominator said phillips commitment to innovative thinking was one thing that stuck with them
from the very first day of class dr phillips encouraged us to think outside the box the nominator said in fact our first lecture was on creative thinking problem solving and decision making skills that are essential to every profession innovation was a recurring theme of the course as we explored the tenets of food toxicology and safety each week
each of the three college-level teaching award recipients received a plaque and monetary award
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dr jörg steiner a university distinguished professor within the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) is one of six texas a&m university faculty members to be named a 2021 regents professor
the designation the highest honor bestowed by the texas a&m system on faculty members recognizes those whose distinguished performance in teaching research and service is considered commendable for their impact on their institution or agency as well as on the community the state and/or at the national and international levels
texas a&m university and their entire leadership have supported our work at the gastrointestinal laboratory (gi lab) for over 20 years and it is such a great honor to be recognized as a regents professor by the texas a&m system steiner said to be included in such a distinguished group of faculty members is truly humbling and serves as an inspiration to continue the work we do
a small animal and comparative gastroenterologist steiner came to texas a&m in 1997 as a graduate research assistant after earning his phd from the cvmbs in veterinary pathobiology in 2000 he joined the faculty as a clinical assistant professor and co-director of the gastrointestinal laboratory in 2005 he was named director of the gi lab
he attained the rank of full professor in 2011 and in 2019 was named a texas a&m university distinguished professor he also holds the dr mark morris chair in small animal gastroenterology and nutrition within vscs
in his 24 years at texas a&m university dr steiner has distinguished himself as a prolific researcher and an outstanding educator whose impact extends well beyond veterinary medicine; the development of diagnostic tools and research being conducted every day in his gi lab have made him one of the most recognized and respected veterinary clinician-scientists in the world said dr john august cvmbs dean this honor is very well-deserved and reflects the pride we feel in dr steiner
steiners scientific contributions and his laboratory impacts the health of hundreds of thousands of animals their families and referring veterinarians per year through testing and professional consulting
among his most notable accomplishments was the development of the pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (pli) test a highly sensitive and specific tool used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in both dogs and cats for which he was awarded a worldwide patent in 2005; in the commercialization process steiner and idexx created the first patient-side test for pli in cats and dogs and today millions of pli tests are performed through idexx
pancreatitis is an exceedingly common gi disease in dogs that prior to dr steiners discovery was challenging to diagnose and therefore not possible to reliably treat or study said dr jonathan m levine vscs department head professor and helen mcwhorter chair today nearly every veterinary clinic in the world can offer this test to any client who brings in a pet and this revolutionized our industry and also paved the way for additional research and even treatment of pancreatitis
steiner also developed the feline tli test which is now the recognized gold-standard for the diagnosis of feline exocrine pancreatic insufficiency world-wide as well as several other diagnostic tests to assess gastrointestinal function
in addition he has helped to define the gi microbiome in the health and disease of many domestic species which has led to changes in the way intestinal dysbiosis is diagnosed and he leads in the annual diagnosis of almost 100 000 animals through gi lab testing and professional consulting
dr steiner is an internationally recognized veterinary clinician-scientist who has revolutionized the field of gastrointestinal (gi) medicine through the development of key diagnostic tests and the performance of clinical trials levine said the gi lab he built and directswhich comprises a team of 50 faculty members graduate students postdocs and staffcontributes to science provides service to thousands of veterinarians throughout the world and generates over $9 million in outside funds every year
in addition to his scientific and service-related contributions dr steiner is an outstanding educator levine continued he is responsible for training residents in internal medicine (approximately 25 in his academic career) most of whom have gone on to contribute deeply to our profession
steiner has also served the profession outside of the cvmbs
he currently serves on the executive committee of the university distinguished professors and the advisory board of the hagler institute he previously served on the board of the comparative gastroenterology society for 13 years first as secretary and treasurer and then as president
he is also completing a term as president of the small animal internal medicine specialty within the college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) and has just been elected to serve as acvim president-elect starting in january 2022 a commitment that will see him serve as president and chair of the board over the next four years
regents professors function as role models within the texas a&m university system and at the request of their chief executive officer or the chancellor may also serve in ceremonial and professional capacities during system-wide activities
steiner will carry the title for the duration of his employment within the a&m system; he will be recognized during a special ceremony held in conjunction with an upcoming board of regents
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contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
research has indicated that companion animals are highly effective at combatting issues of loneliness a problem that affects 1 in 5 adults and nearly half of those ages 65 and older in the united states
because senior citizens in rural communities often face additional barriers that limit social interaction and community participation the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) will launch a program next january that will attempt to ease some of the financial and access burdens associated with caring for the pets who often fill these roles for their elderly owners
petco love has awarded the cvmbs with a $91 000 grant investment that will enable cvmbs clinicians technicians and students in the small animal teaching hospitals (sath) primary care services (pcs) to expand the care offered the grant will support the cvmbs lifesaving work for animals in bastrop county texas as identified by a study conducted by the non-profit bastrop cares
our program examines how the environment of seniors 65 and older and their pets who are aging in place in their homes affects their mental health and what improvements can be made said dr lori teller clinical associate professor in the cvmbs small animal clinical sciences (vscs) department this is the largest growing population within the county and innovative tools to maintain the health of this generation are paramount to reducing disease burden on both individuals and the healthcare system
numerous health benefits are reaped from having a pet including lower blood pressure decreased stress improved cognitive function and more she said however older adults face major barriers to caring for pets such as financial constraints ease of access to care and assistance in caring for the animal
with the petco love grant the cvmbs will provide regular visits to senior citizens in the bastrop county area to help their pets during which pcs students under supervision of the veterinary faculty and staff will perform physical exams give vaccinations test for internal and external parasites and treat minor or acute conditions such as skin and ear infections as well as discuss behavioral and nutritional concerns they also will provide heartworm flea and tick prevention
if the pet patient requires more intensive diagnostics or therapeutics the pcs team will work with cvmbs specialists or local veterinarians to provide that care; these visits will also allow pcs faculty staff and students to follow-up with the pet owners between via telemedicine to provide ongoing assessments of care and to answer client questions owners will also receive assistance in accessing the technology required for telemedicine and with managing the animals before and after visits
research has shown that many humans and animals in rural areas go without quality healthcare due to lack of access teller said animals play an important role in positively impacting the physical and emotional health and well-being of humans as a result poor animal health can increase stress and negatively impact human health
populations and issues addressed through this program will work to improve health equity in a rural underserved area teller said addressing these barriers and providing care to the pets relied on by these older adults will strengthen the human-animal bond and increase the associated health benefits to all
the program is part of a larger initiative by texas a&m and bastrop county community organizations that provides medical care to address the health and well-being of humans and animals through improved access to care
studying the intersectionality between mental health and the human-animal bond through an interdisciplinary approach aimed at addressing social isolation will provide the means to offer holistic care to an increasingly aging population with an increasing disease burden teller said the innovation driving this community-based program has the potential to grow and develop into standardized best practices for senior care and their pets across all rural communities
petco love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer stronger and healthier since its founding in 1999 as the petco foundation petco love has invested more than $300 million to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts the organization also has helped find loving homes for more than 65 million pets in partnership with petco and more than 4 000 organizations nationwide
petco love is proud to invest in texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized said susanne kogut petco love president
to learn more about petco love visit petcoloveorg
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
forty environmental health scientists from around the country gathered at texas a&m university to hone the skills necessary to understand and respond to complex natural and man-made disasters during texas a&m superfund research centers 2021 disaster research training workshop dec 2-3
twenty-one trainees represented texas a&m entities including the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) the school of public health and the college of architecture
the other attendees represented a wide array of stakeholders in disaster research response these included academia: northeastern university the baylor college of medicine the university of rhode island the university of michigan and the uniformed services university of the health sciences there were also representatives from a number of government entities including the texas a&m division of emergency management and texas commission on environmental quality as well as private energy sector companies such as chevron and exxonmobil
a total of 15 experts served as presenters to teach a number of disaster and other emergency topics as well as serve as field exercise supervisors during the two-day training at the texas a&m engineering extension services (teex) emergency operations training center these were from texas a&m engineering extension service (teex) texas general land office texas commission on environmental quality texas a&m university school of public health and college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences the university of texas medical branch and the united states coast guard
it is amazing that such a large group of trainees and experts were able to gather for this exciting and engaging event said professor ivan rusyn the director of texas a&m superfund research center all attendees were happy to be part of this event that marks resumption of large-scale in-person training activities for the individuals who were both local and those that traveled from all corners of the united states
training sessions included an overview of the national incident command system and how a research response fits into an overall disaster response how to effectively communicate health and safety information to the public through the media what the safety considerations are for conducting field research how to collect human observational data and how to conduct field sampling for determining exposures
on the second day the attendees spent a half-day applying their new knowledge and skills in a series of table-top and field exercise activities based on real disaster scenarios that have occurred in the aftermath of hurricanes along the texas coast these scenarios included gathering field samples planning a disaster response while interacting with first responders and government agencies collecting data from human subjects and communicating their activities with the general public
this training was very informative especially the hands-on parts of the workshop said alina roman-hubers a fourth-year trainee in the interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology and texas a&m superfund research center the combination of the didactic and practical learning is the best way to ensure that the skills we have learned can be applied in my future professional life
this workshop is part of the texas a&m superfund research centers mission to educate and translate research findings to improve response by environmental scientists to complex disaster-related health impacts
the center was established in 2017 to design develop and implement comprehensive tools and models for addressing exposure to mixtures during environmental emergency-related contamination events and has since responded to multiple events that have helped inform the workshop
see more photos from the 2021 disaster research training workshop on the cvmbs flickr account
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has received a generous donation from nestlé purina petcare to establish the colleges first wellness endowment within the cvmbs small animal clinical sciences (vscs) department
the purina health and wellness endowment will distribute an annual stipend to the departments house officer wellbeing committee that supports resident and intern veterinarians also known as house officers within the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital (sath)
the funds from purina will help integrate house officers from different sath services build a wider support network for sath resident and intern veterinarians and provide seminars on topics such as conflict management and communicating more effectively with clients
at purina we recognize that a critical component for veterinarians to provide the highest quality care to patients is taking care of their own needs first – including their health and well-being said lauren stump dvm veterinary communications manager for purina we are honored to support the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital in their efforts to support the mental health as well as personal and professional development of their veterinarians
these wellness initiatives are especially important because veterinary professionals experience higher than average rates of depression burnout anxiety and suicidal ideation than non-veterinary professionals according to a merck veterinary wellbeing study from 2018
providing individuals with the opportunity for personal development is imperative for house officers success
the house officer wellness committee was created in 2020 to educate house officers on three major initiativesmental and cognitive wellness in the workplace; nutritional and physical wellness; and wellness experiences
dr emma warry a cvmbs clinical associate professor formed the committee to advocate for and support the sath house officers who contribute greatly to the hospitals functions but often lack the same level of recognition and support as faculty members
the committee also includes drs vanna dickerson alison diesel emily gould katie mccool and sonya wesselowski
weve had difficulty being able to do all the things wed like for the program due to covid restrictions but we have put on several seminars for the house officers on topics to help support mental wellbeing plan for forward progress into a sustainable career in veterinary medicine and provide financial planning advice diesel said additionally we organized a ‘house system to break the interns and residents into small support groups guided by one of the faculty members on the committee
several fun and engaging health-related activities are also offered by the committee including miles for wellness a friendly competition designed to promote fitness and teamwork such programs promote health by focusing on the development of beneficial habits
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
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dr leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and uppsala university and researchers from uppsala and princeton universities have uncovered the genetic basis for the yellow beak color of some darwins finch nestlings
several species of darwins finch nestlings have a beak color that is either yellow or pink an unusual feature of the darwins finch beak color is that it is only visible before birds leave the nest; as adults the beaks of most darwins finches are entirely black due to deposition of melanin
in their study published in current biology the researchers tie this beak-color variation to the carotenoid-rich diet consumed by the parents; they believe this finding may provide clues for how differences between species evolve
carotenoids form the basis for the colors red yellow and orange and are the underlying pigment for much of the enormous variety in color found across birds; in their study the team discovered a mutation affecting the expression of a key carotenoid pigment gene which results in carotenoids deposited at a greater rate in the beaks of birds possessing the mutation leading to the observed yellow color
birds are not able to produce carotenoids themselves and obtain them by eating foods that contain carotenoids such as insects and plants in fact much of the variation in beak leg and feather colors that can be observed among bird species is due to carotenoids
the genetic basis for this variation has been poorly understood because there are millions of genetic differences between species and it is really difficult to figure out which ones control the difference in carotenoid pigmentation according to andersson
it is in fact more difficult than finding a nail in a hay stack he said
however when variation occurs within species researchers can use modern genetic tools to identify the variation in dna sequence that is controlling the difference in the visible phenotype
by sequencing the full genome of hundreds of birds with yellow (with carotenoids) and pink (lacking carotenoids) beaks the researchers found that the only consistent difference was a single base change in the protein-coding gene bco2 (beta-carotene oxygenase 2) that causes carotenoid oxidation (breakdown)
its a really interesting gene that degrades a certain type of carotenoid the finches that have the genetic mutation we identify express this gene at a lower amount leading to the yellow carotenoid pigment being deposited in the beak said erik enbody a postdoctoral fellow working in anderssons lab at uppsala university
we first discovered the importance of bco2 for controlling carotenoid pigmentation in vertebrates when we showed that domestic chickens with yellow legs do not express this enzyme in their skin due to a regulatory mutation in bco2 andersson said since then it has become apparent that bco2 is a master regulator for carotenoid pigmentation in vertebrates as illustrated in the present study
the mutation is present across species of darwins finches on the galápagos islands which allowed the researchers to identify the origin of the mutation approximately 500 000 years ago this means that the mutation controlling beak color predates the origin of many present-day darwins finch species
the researchers used samples collected by peter and rosemary grant at princeton university to track the beak color variation in darwins finches across 40 years on a small island in the galápagos
the grants suspected that the prevalence of this mutation was impacted by a variety of factors such as the amount of carotenoids in a populations diet
we found that the beak color of the cactus specialist finch the common cactus finch varies with the availability of cacti on the island they explained as carotenoids are present in the pollen and nectar of opuntia cactus flowers which the cactus finches consume they may influence how common the yellow beak color is in nestlings
they also hypothesize that finches carrying the yellow beak mutation have a higher hatching success due to the increased carotenoids in their eggs yolk
it is important to notice that the metabolism of carotenoids has important implications because the degradation of carotenoids leads to the release of vitamin a andersson said thus storage of carotenoids in the beak and skin for subsequent release may be beneficial for health it is interesting that the yellow gene variant has a high frequency in the common cactus finch a species that feeds on pollen and nectar from opuntia cacti that is particularly rich in carotenoids
variation within species may provide clues for how differences between species evolve and these findings in darwins finches suggest that the selective advantage of presence/absence of carotenoid pigmentation may be related to diet enbody said
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr kate creevy a professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) is one of 20 faculty members from across texas a&m university to be selected as a 2021 presidential impact fellow
the award established in 2017 recognizes those who are leaders in their fields and who embody the university commitment to advancing knowledge through transformational learning discovery innovation and impact for texas and the world
creevy is recognized globally as a leader in the growing field of veterinary gerontology through her role as chief veterinary officer of the dog aging project a multi-institutional community science research project dedicated to understanding the biological and environmental determinants of canine aging with an additional long-term goal of applying this knowledge to the study of human aging as well
research in veterinary medicine has changed over the last decade to include more opportunities to do work that directly impacts human health dr creevy is at the forefront of this movement and she is rapidly becoming recognized as an example of what is truly possible in an era of canine-focused human health research one nominator said she also has a true passion for our profession the well-being of all species and the future generation of veterinary clinician-scientists she is truly deserving of this honor not only because of her current accomplishments but because of her outstanding future promise
creevy earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from the university of tennessee college of veterinary medicine and then completed a small animal internship at the university of minnesota cancer research fellowship at the national cancer institute and small animal internal medicine residency at the university of georgia
she began her career in veterinary education at the university of georgia before joining the cvmbs in 2016 as an associate professor and clinician in the texas a&m small animal teaching hospitals internal medicine service
dr creevys pioneering efforts are leading the way in a new field of scientific discovery at the interface of biological aging and veterinary science another nominator said her work has the potential to transform clinical practice as it applies to older animals as well as provide key insights into human health and longevity she consistently demonstrates a truly impressive level of highly rigorous research outstanding mentorship of her trainees and compassionate care for her patients
creevy will receive an annual stipend of $25 000 for three years and retain her new title for life as long as she remains a faculty member in good standing
as part of the fifth class of presidential impact fellows she joins more than 75 colleagues in receiving one of the most prestigious scholarly impact awards presented to texas a&m faculty
she joins drs william murphy michael criscitiello and albert mulenga in representing the cvmbs as presidential impact fellows
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researchers aim to determine if rapamycin can be used to treat preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy the second most-common acquired cardiac disease in dogs
dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm) is the second most-common acquired cardiac disease in dogs
in its early stage called the preclinical stage dogs are apparently healthy to their owners but beneath the surface dcm causes a progressive enlarging and weakening of dogs hearts over time dogs with dcm will progress to the diseases clinical phase and develop congestive heart failure (fluid in the lungs)
but what if owners of dogs with dcm had the ability to extend the amount of quality time they spend with their beloved four-legged friends
through the repair study (rapamycin treatment in preclinical canine dilated cardiomyopathy) cardiologists at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) small animal teaching hospital (sath) are investigating the use of the drug rapamycin in dogs with preclinical dcm
rapamycin which will be distributed by the ireland-based company triviumvet is a drug that affects both the immune system and metabolism; it has been shown to improve heart function and reverse age-related changes in rodents with heart disease
the primary objective of our study is to determine if rapamycin is safe for use in dogs with preclinical dcm as well as to evaluate the effects of this medication on heart size and function in these dogs said dr elizabeth malcolm an sath cardiology resident whose work on the repair study is part of her residency research
to complete this study the sath is looking to enroll 12 dogs with preclinical dcmno more than six doberman pinschers (the breed most commonly affected by dcm) and up to two dogs of any other breed
eligible dogs must be older than 3 years be on a stable dose of pimobendan (vetmedin) for at least 60 days prior to the screening examination have no evidence of congestive heart failure and not be receiving diuretic (furosemide) medication
we know that despite proof that pimobendan (vetmedin) can delay the onset of heart failure and death disease progression is relentless and dogs with dcm are still destined to die from this disease said dr sonya gordon cardiology professor eugene chen chair in cardiology and principal investigator for the repair study pimobendan treatment works by reducing heart size and improving function essentially resetting the clock; however that clock continues to tick we are optimistic that the addition of rapamycin will yield additional benefits that translate into increased health span and lifespan in dogs with preclinical dcm
for this study we require participants to continue to receive pimobendan because it is proven to be beneficial and represents the current standard of care; we are just adding rapamycin gordon said living longer is great but the real goal is to live betterthats what health span is all about; it is the part of life when you feel great even if you have disease
as a cardiology resident i see firsthand how devastating dcm is for patients and their owners while pimobendan is an important medication that has been shown to have significant beneficial effects in dogs with dcm we must continue to investigate additional therapies with the potential of increasing longevity as well as enhancing the quality of life in dogs with this heartbreaking disease malcolm said
those selected to participate in the trial will take a pill three times a week and will be required to visit the sath for enrollment screening as well as three additional times over six months
while this trial will hopefully lead to larger studies its important for owners to know that if the drug works their dogs would be eligible to continue to receive chronic treatment with rapamycin gordon said
there will be no cost to owners of dogs participating in this trial; triviumvet the sponsor will cover the costs for diagnostic testing rapamycin and vetmedin for the duration of the study
this is a really stand-up company they are all about the dogs and they have a potential game changer here because if it works its going to have a far-reaching impact gordon said if we move forward with a larger study after this investigational study texas a&m will serve as the lead investigational site
rapamycin has been approved by the food and drug administration (fda) for human use and has been used safely for decades while cardiac disease such as dcm is not among the labeled indications for which the drug is currently prescribed in humans gordon and malcolm believe this trial could have important implications in human medicine given the similarities of heart disease among dogs and humans
we are delighted to be able to bring our proprietary novel veterinary rapamycin formulation to clinical trials in dogs and cats for a multitude of diseases said triviumvet ceo louise grubb our partnership with texas a&m for the repair study has been an incredible synergy given their cardiology expertise and passion for research the potential of this drug is far-reaching and we look forward to continuing our research with texas a&m across cardiology and other target disease areas
owners with dogs diagnosed with preclinical dcmincluding those diagnosed within the past two yearsthat are interested in enrolling their dogs in this study should email tamucardiology@cvmtamuedu with repair study in the subject line
for more information including the list of exclusion criteria visit the cvmbs clinical trials webpage
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contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr dan posey the director for student recruitment and professional relationships at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has received the southwest veterinary symposiums (swvs) 2021 visionary of the year award for his contributions to veterinary education
the award is presented annually to an individual recognized by the profession for their active engagement in a private public or corporate veterinary practice and whose contributions elevate the standards and goals of veterinary medicine
beyond his administrative role posey serves as a clinical professor in the cvmbs department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) and is a part of the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) faculty team located in canyon texas
drs posey and griffin created the vero program through vision and hard work to serve the state of texas and its industries said dr susan eades cvmbs professor and associate dean for administration at vero dr posey is a passionate and skilled educator and has developed a partnership with west texas a&m university that has been vital to launching the vero program dr posey has worked hard to create a program that has impact on the community industry and veterinary profession
poseys primary interests in veterinary medicine include beef cattle production medicine sustainable agriculture and teaching
dr posey has a long history of commitment to providing veterinary medical support to rural communities and agricultural producers said dr wesley bissett interim department head of vlcs he has been vital to the efforts of creating the vero program which is focused on ensuring that our students are ready to serve in these sectors ‘visionary describes him perfectly
he earned his doctor of veterinary medicine from texas a&m university in 1982 and spent 20 years at a private general veterinary practice in rural madison county texas before moving into higher education
he joined the cvmbs in 2002 and served in several administrative roles in college station before moving to canyon to help launch the vero program there he also has a joint appointment as a clinical professor in west texas a&m universitys (wt) paul engler college of agriculture and natural sciences
outside of his roles as an educator and administrator he also serves as the veterinarian for the wt research feedlot and nance ranch
posey is an active member in the texas veterinary medical association (tvma) having served on the bovine and membership committees the board of directors the executive committee and as a past president
he was nominated for the award by the tvma selected as the recipient by the swvs awards committee and presented with the visionary of the year award at the svws presidents vip reception
the swvs provides continuing education for veterinary professionals in the southwest region of the nation including arkansas louisiana new mexico oklahoma and texas the annual symposium includes exhibits interactive labs and social activities for dvms rvts hospital personnel veterinary and technician students and suppliers who provide the products and services that support veterinary medicine
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caitlin castaneda a doctoral student in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) was recently awarded a us senator phil gramm fellowship by the texas a&m university graduate and professional school
the awards are given annually to outstanding current doctoral students for excellence in both research and teaching
in her nomination of castaneda director of the molecular cytogenetics lab dr terje raudsepp said castaneda has been truly impressive since she joined the lab in 2015 as a technician
her intellectual abilities creative thinking and technical skills were above those of most graduate students or even postdocs she said in addition caitlin had inspiring work ethic and excellent people skills
dr gus cothran a professor emeritus who led the lab when castaneda was hired also nominated her
clearly a natural scientist and scholar i consider her one of the most outstanding graduate students that i have had the opportunity to work with he wrote
castanedas research primarily focuses on stallion fertility and the search for the genes that impact it as part of that research shes been working on an assembly of the y chromosome something that brian davis assistant professor in vibs said is unique
her work on the horse y chromosome will continue to yield results no one else in the world is producing he said the careful and methodical nature required to construct a y chromosome from scratch is so daunting that few labs will attempt it ms castaneda embraces it with eagerness
in 2012 the molecular cytogenetics lab discovered the first gene associated with stallion fertility and as a result of castanedas work a diagnostic test for stallion subfertility was published this year however discovery of the actual causative mutation still remains a goal to achieve
were hoping to find more genes and then create more diagnostic tests so that when horses come through the clinic we can have a molecular screening for fertility genetics in addition to the routine breeding soundness exam she said
this has potentially huge implications in the equine industry in which stallion fertility is of significant economic interest
down the road castaneda hopes to bring what shes learned in animal medicine to research in human fertility as well
in addition to her proven skills as a researcherhaving authored eight publications including three as the first authorshe has also impacted a number of students as a teacher and mentor
students like recent graduate oriana ramos who have worked with her in the lab describe her as having a tireless work ethic while at the same time taking time to work with them individually
clearly a natural scientist and scholar i consider [caitlin castaneda] one of the most outstanding graduate students that i have had the opportunity to work with
i always valued her patience and willingness to go above and beyond to teach me not only the immediate background of any projects assigned to me but any relevant information that she knew would prepare me for a successful career in genetics ramos said caitlin taught me to be hands-on with my learning and encouraged me to have confidence in my skills even when venturing into territory i hadnt experienced yet
undergraduate student ethan wall described her patience while teaching him complex processes like extracting dna and running polymerase chain reactions (pcrs)
caitlin has managed to be incredibly patient with me a feat that i am sure is not easy he said after working under her this past year i truly cannot fathom that there are many people out there who are as deserving of this prestigious award as she is as someone who has experienced her work ethic firsthand i have no doubt that she will take full advantage of this award
the us senator phil gramm fellowships are given annually by the texas a&m university graduate and professional school to outstanding current doctoral students whose excellence in both research and teaching exemplifies the meaning of scholarship and mentorship in the highest sense the fellowship includes a $5 000 award to help the winners continue their studies
made possible by gifts from donors in honor of gramm these awards reflect gramms appreciation of the vital role graduate students play in helping texas a&m achieve its teaching and research mission as well as honor his legacy of scholarship and public service
gramm received a phd in economics from the university of georgia and served as an economics professor at texas a&m for 12 years before turning to politics gramm first represented texas 6th congressional district in the us house of representatives before being elected to the us senate where he served for nearly two decades he is currently the senior partner of gramm partners a public policy firm in washington dc and is the senior advisor at us policy metrics
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr dee griffin a retired clinical professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has received the amstutz-williams award the highest honor bestowed by the american association of bovine practitioners (aabp)
the award recognizes griffins outstanding service to the profession throughout his 45-year career in veterinary medicine it was presented at the 54th annual aabp conference in salt lake city utah on oct 9
griffin retired in july after a long career dedicated to veterinary education and bovine medicine
before his retirement he served as director of the cvmbs veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program located on the west texas a&m university campus in canyon
dr griffins commitment to students animals and sustainable agriculture is unsurpassed said dr susan eades cvmbs professor and associate dean for administration at vero he emphasizes veterinary skills animal husbandry production management and teamwork all team members are important to him his passion is contagious to all around him shaping the careers of many his legacy will live on through the innumerable veterinary students cattle producers and veterinarians impacted by dr griffin during his long and storied career
he continues to serve as an adviser for the vero program after his retirement
griffin developed an interest in bovine veterinary medicine very early in life having been raised on a cow-calf operation in oklahoma he earned his doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree in 1976 from oklahoma state university followed by a masters degree in pathology and ruminant nutrition from purdue university
he spent several years practicing beef cattle medicine before joining the university of nebraskas great plains veterinary education center as a faculty member in 1991 in 2016 he moved to texas and joined the cvmbs as director of the texas a&m veterinary medical center which later gave rise to the vero program
i am a very lucky man and veterinarian to have dr griffin in my life and i was fortunate that i got to work with him for the past five years said dr dan posey director of student recruitment and professional relationships and clinical professor at vero when we arrived on the west texas a&m university campus in 2016 there was a ton of work we needed to accomplish to start the vero program and make it impactful and sustainable dr griffins vision for the program is now being fulfilled due to his ability to engage community and industry guide our efforts and share and spread the vision of the vero program
this award signifies his impact on the beef cattle world and i cant think of another veterinary educator who has had more impact than dr griffin posey said the depth of dr griffins veterinary knowledge is legendary because he continued to be a great student i am so very fortunate to call him my mentor friend colleague and former boss
griffin has also received the aabps national award for excellence in preventive medicine in 1985 and mentor of the year award in 2017 he has received numerous other awards during his career including being inducted into the cattle feeders hall of fame in 2017
the amstutz-williams award honors the long and distinguished service of the late dr harold e amstutz the aabps secretary-treasurer and executive vice president until 1993 and dr eric i williams the editor of the bovine practitioner and proceedings book from 1969 to 1998 the award has only been given to 11 individuals since it was established in 1986
aabp is a membership-based not-for-profit organization serving cattle veterinary medicine professionals across the united states canada and other countries
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
for the fifth year in a row the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been honored for its commitment to diversity and inclusion with a health professions higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award from insight into diversity magazine
one of only two veterinary colleges in the united states to receive the recognition for five consecutive years the cvmbs joins texas a&ms irma lerma rangel college of pharmacy and 48 other recipients of the 2021 heed award presented annually to health colleges and universities across the country that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion
recipients announced on oct 14 will be featured in the december 2021 issue of insight into diversity magazine the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education
during my time as dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences i have witnessed the hard work and commitment of our faculty staff and students as they prioritize creating an environment that is welcoming supportive and safe for everyone who enters our doors said dr john r august cvmbs dean we are extraordinarily proud to have received the heed award for five consecutive years and we have no intent of resting our laurels
veterinary medicine remains the least diversified of the health professions and our college recognizes the importance of a broad approach to fostering an inclusive environment of respect understanding appreciation and opportunity he said
this broad approach reaches across the cvmbs community and has included an inclusive doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) curriculum initiatives that make higher education accessible to students at all levels and training opportunities for faculty and staff
the cvmbs office of diversity & inclusion led by dr kenita rogers and the committee for inclusion diversity equity & accountability (c-idea) have also hosted a number of new activities and developed a number of new initiatives designed to promote inclusion diversity and access
these include events designed to bring together members of the cvmbs community such as spread the love in support of the cvmbs lgbtq community which included donating $1 850 in t-shirt sales to a fundraiser for the trevor project sponsored by the lgbtqia+ and allies tamu cvmbs interns residents and graduate students organization; a five-day welcome week that included activities ranging from an inclusivity and campus resources fair to a panel discussion on the power of the words we use and the dangers of stereotyping; and storytelling activities that encourage members of the cvmbs community to share stories from their lives with their friends peers professors and others within the college
in addition a sticks and stoneswords that hurt video created to highlight the impacts of microaggressions was produced and shared within the cvmbs community with shortened versions being broadcast across campus digital signage; the i am cvm video series created to celebrate the uniqueness of and connections shared between more than 40 cvmbs faculty staff and students was shared on social media and across the cvmbs; and a leadership & communication in action video series was created to reinforce the importance of and model conflict management skillsets such as perspective taking
within the dvm program a professional skills class had students participate in discussion groups related to podcast topics on diversity and inclusion efforts and the cvmbs professional programs office facilitated meetings between students and corporate veterinary practices regarding lgbtq practices
in addition dvm students supported texas a&ms reach project by offering free wellness check-ups and vaccinations to the pets of texas a&ms contracted service workers veterinary students also joined members of the cvmbs veterinary emergency team (vet) to participate in operation lone star sponsored by the texas department of state health services during which they provided wellness checks and vaccinations for 735 animals belonging to owners with reduced access to veterinary care
these new initiatives expand upon the colleges strong student organizations that are dedicated to supporting a welcoming learning environment these include the graduate student association which provides consistent multicultural programming; voice (veterinarians as one inclusive community for empowerment) a student-run organization that addresses socio-cultural awareness among veterinary students faculty and staff; tamu pride student veterinary medical community (pridesvmc) which works to connect support and empower lgbtq+ veterinary students and allies; and the cvmbs chapter of the latinx veterinary medical association (lvma) a community of latinx dvm students veterinarians veterinary professionals pet parents and allies
in addition veterinary student-led cvmbs white coats are dedicated to maintaining a culture of universal acceptance and selfless leadership in order to preserve the ideals of inclusion and excellence within the cvmbs
finally the monthly diversity & inclusion digest shares information related to the cvmbs ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion resources to support a commitment to continuous learning and diversity and inclusion events and reflections
the health professions heed award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employeesand best practices for bothcontinued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion said lenore pearlstein publisher of insight into diversity magazine we take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a health professions heed award recipient our standards are high and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus
for more information about the 2021 health professions heed award visit insightintodiversitycom and for more information on the cvmbs diversity and inclusion efforts visit vetmedtamuedu/diversity
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the search to find the most qualified educators for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary education research and outreach (vero) program has led to a partnership with the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl)
two new hires in the cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) dr hatem kittana and dr abigail finley not only have an academic appointment at vero located on the west texas a&m university campus but also serve as diagnosticians at the tvmdls canyon laboratory located next door
through their joint appointments kittana and finley will teach courses on infectious disease and pathology as part of the cvmbs new 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program at vero which enrolled its first class this fall while also using their skills to benefit the texas panhandle region at the tvmdl which focuses on animal health and identifying potential infectious diseases in the regions various veterinary industries
originally from egypt kittana earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine at south valley university in qena where he wrote a research proposal that would eventually lead to him doing research at the iowa state university college of veterinary medicine from there he earned his phd studying bacterial pathogenesis at the university of nebraska before completing a residency in veterinary microbiology at the university of missouri
bacterial pathogenesis is the study of the process by which infectious agents actually infect and cause the disease in the host for kittana the ability to stay in veterinary medicine which was his passion as a student but also bring in that expertise in bacterial pathogenesis made this an ideal position
this position is really the center of the venn diagram of what i was looking for he said its going to give me this teaching flavor that i really love because i used to teach back home in egypt and its going to give me the diagnostic experience that ive been doing during my time in missouri ill be working closely with veterinarians and other stakeholders helping farmers and producers out here solving clinical problems that they face on a daily basis when it comes to infectious diseases
on the education side kittana will be teaching the two agents of disease courses and said hell be introducing veterinary students to topics like antimicrobial resistance that will impact their entire careers
im looking forward to working with our veterinarians and veterinary students here and helping them understand more about bacterial pathogenesis the role of antimicrobials and how to avoid the excess use of antimicrobials thats something thats become very important to me as a microbiologist he said
finley an anatomical pathologist didnt start her journey to canyon quite as far away as kittana
after earning her dvm at ontario veterinary college in canada she did an internship in diagnostic medicine and pathology at kansas state before completing an anatomic pathology residency at midwestern university in arizona in september she earned a board-certification from the american college of veterinary pathologists
that experience at midwestern is part of why she was drawn to the opening at vero
i was their first resident so i had an experience with starting a new program she said you get to build it and shape it into something you can be really proud of and thats the opportunity we have here
the small cohort of students is another thing that attracted her to the position and being able to combine the educational component with the diagnostics made it a great fit
finley will be teaching the two anatomical pathology courses which focus on diagnosing diseases by looking at tissues since performing those diagnostics will be her role at tvmdl she said she hopes to be able to bring some cases she sees at tvmdl to the classroom
there are only 18 students so i look forward to being a little more personable a little more creative in the classroom and really getting to know this small group she said i really wanted to get an academic job i really enjoy teaching but i still wanted to do diagnostics this is the perfect marriage where im teaching but im doing biopsies and necropsies too and what i take from diagnostics i can use for teaching
both kittana and finley said theyre excited to be part of the vero team and continue to be impressed with the level of support provided both in canyon and by the cvmbs administration in college station
its been great kittana said the group here is a really nice group were already working closely as a team everyone is helping you try to find your way here and learn the resources available dr susan eades (associate dean for administration) here at vero is so supportive always trying to helping us even on a personal level and the group in college station is very supportive and making sure that the students are doing well and making sure were doing well as well its been a great ride so far honestly and im really thankful for all of them
according to dr ramesh vemulapalli vtpb department head these joint appointments with tvmdl were essential to making the two great faculty hires
without this partnership we would not have been successful in hiring these highly qualified faculty to vero in canyon he said these are disciplines where specialty certifications and expertise are required and they need opportunities to practice their discipline
in college station they would provide diagnostic services at the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) but without a teaching hospital in canyon they reached out to tvmdl
we contacted tvmdl and realized that they had a need for this kind of expertise at their canyon laboratory vemulapalli said so theyre providing day-to-day diagnostic services at tvmdl as well as participating in educational and scholarly activities
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a new vaccine hesitancy project led by the texas a&m partnership for environmental education & rural health (peer) program aims to improve covid-19 vaccination rates among rural and medically underserved populations in texas
in support of this project the peer program is one of 12 science education partnership award (sepa) programs from across the country selected to receive a supplement of $50 000 to the current sepa grant from the national institute of general medical sciences of the national institutes of health (nih)
dr larry johnson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and principal investigator for the peer programa sepa awardee since 2007will serve as the projects director and has assembled an interdisciplinary team of science public health education and communication specialists from across the texas a&m university system
the project k-12 educational resources on vaccine biology and sars-cov-2 vaccine hesitancy will include creating and dispersing educational materials for middle school students that address vaccine hesitancy the basics of immunology and how vaccines work
the educational materials will be included in peers virtual summer camp for middle and high school students and sepas teacher professional development workshop; the materials also will be available to teachers across the country though peers teacher network that reaches all 50 states
peer undergraduate student fellows will also have the opportunity to present the materials to schools in their hometowns during breaks between semesters
in addition to a variety of printed and online materials this project will include a series of videos addressing vaccine hesitancy with a texas a&m student role-playing someone hesitant about being vaccinated and discussing their concerns with an expert in a relevant field
this project is an exercise in reassurance that there is a deep scientific understanding of how vaccines work said dr ian tizard a cvmbs distinguished professor who will be leading the immunology portion of the project after all vaccines have been available since the 1700s and weve eliminated diseases like smallpox by the use of vaccines people have also been working on rna vaccines since the 1970s
because many of the target areas have high spanish-speaking populations the project materials will be created in both english and spanish
were working to reach out to populations that have limited access to university resources and experts like we have at texas a&m and those who may also have a language barrier johnson said the hope is that through education we can help entire families to dismiss vaccine myths understand the biology and importance of vaccinations and get all eligible members of the family vaccinated
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a training technique that has been practiced by parrot owners for decades is now being applied to establishing new bird flocks in the wild
while many parrot owners clip their birds wings to reduce their flight abilities free-flight involves training an intact parrot to come when called follow basic commands recognize natural dangers and otherwise safely fly in open areas
in a recently published paper dr constance woodman a graduate of the biomedical sciences phd program at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and dr donald brightsmith a cvmbs associate professor shared their findings from a project with chris biro a globally recognized free-flight trainer that included documenting biros training process step by step so that conservationists can apply his methods when releasing birds into the wild
biro one of the most experienced free-flight trainers has trained more than 400 students from more than 30 countries on how to free-fly their birds but his process had previously only been captured via video
we have colleagues up and down the americas raising and releasing birds but their main objective is conservation and they dont have the chance to write up a lot of the science brightsmith said a&ms role in this project is to make sure that this information gets put into a place and a format so the rest of the world can read it criticize it use it and improve it if information hasnt made it into scientific literature its not improving the future of the science of macaw and parrot conservation its just helping one or two populations
as scientists one of the most important things we can do for conservation is offer ready-to-use solutions for practitioners on the ground who are trying to save animals and ecosystems said woodman who now serves as program manager for the cvmbs conservation innovation grant program by learning from communities that already work with the target species in this case parrot owners and trainers we can take their knowledge and transform it into a conservation tool
woodman while supported by a national science foundation fellowship and biro spent several years training three different flocks of multiple parrot species using biros techniques thoroughly documenting every step of the process
these 37 birds which collectively spent 500 months in free-flight were hand-raised from chicks to build a strong bond with the trainer before being gradually taught new commands and introduced to increasingly complex environments to learn the skills necessary to safely fly in open uncontrolled areas
the birds learned to recognize evade and even intimidate predators; forage for food and recognize safe vs unsafe options; fly in flocks; navigate and mentally map the environment; and avoid unsafe situations like dogs and cars
during the entire training process biros methods were proven successful by the fact that neither trainer lost a single bird to predators or had a bird leave the training area
as the next step in this process the team will work to adapt the training in support of parrot conservation
texas a&m and biros nonprofit bird recovery international (bri) will be among the first to test free-flight as a conservation tool through collaborative projects in brazil and honduras
traditionally attempting to release hand-reared parrots has resulted in birds that show little fear of humans which increases their chances of being trapped by poachers or killed by people
by using a kernel flockhuman-socialized birds trained in free-flightto teach survival behaviors to other parrots conservationists should be able to release wild birds without having to train them themselves
the idea of using a kernel flock is a way to cut the difference when human socialization is not desirable in your wild birds woodman said
after the kernel flock trains the non-socialized birds the kernel flock could be recalled and moved to another location leaving behind a well-established colony of wild parrots
this is a really really important project biro said for example the spixs macaw is extinct in the wild and there are only about 150 or so left in captivity one of the problems of putting the spixs macaw back into brazil is that there are limited options for introducing birds into environments where no flock exists this project produces a flock where there isnt one
woodman first developed an interest in free-flight when she got a pet african grey parrot at 13 years old
free-flight has always fascinated me woodman said i love going out with these animalsthese beings that know where the air currents will be and have this understanding that i just dont its phenomenal
similarly biro has been free-flying birds for nearly three decades and has long seen the potential of using the technique for conservation
its taken me a long time to put all the pieces together but im delighted to see it get this far he said weve been bouncing around the idea of writing this paper for over four years now so its really exciting to see it completed especially considering that i already had my honduras and brazil projects in motion the timing of this is perfect
woodman first connected with biro at a young age to learn his free-flight techniques and then reconnected years later to film his methods and begin this project together they hatched the idea of publishing a paper to share the potential benefits that free-flight typically used only in the pet trade could have for wild birds
there are so many groups of animal keepers fanciers or breeders who have specialty knowledge but they may not be plugged into conservation communities woodman said the work weve donespending years working with a group to learn how they do what they do and then translating that into something useful for scientists and practitionersis critically important to moving conservation forward
for parrot owners who are interested in learning free-flight woodman recommends finding a local free-flight community to learn morefree-flight is highly technical and it almost requires an apprenticeship-type learning system to do well just like with falconry woodman said to free-fly a parrot safely youve got to be involved in the free-flight community because theres always a risk of losing an animal and that risk goes up without proper training
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the search for covid-19 preventions and cures has been ongoing for over a year now so its not surprising that the search has at times uncovered unconventional treatments one that has recently started trending is ivermectin an anti-parasitic medication used in people and animals
however texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences associate dean of global one health dr gerry parker both a doctor of veterinary medicine and an expert in human physiology said that taking ivermectin without a prescription is dangerous
ivermectin is approved for use in people but only in the case of very specific parasitic diseases he said the products meant for animals have different ingredients and have a larger concentration of the active ingredient that could be dangerous to a human
while the us food and drug administration has researched a number of medications already on the market including ivermectin that research is ongoing at this point the fda has not approved ivermectin to treat or prevent covid-19
the potential dangers of humans taking the animal-grade ivermectin go far beyond the real and serious danger of overdosing; theres also a possibility that ingredients in the medication could interact with other medications people are taking according to parker
another concern is that not only does ivermectin contain much larger concentrations of the active ingredient but there are also ingredients used in the production of animal medicine that have not been approved for use in humans they either havent been evaluated or they could be in much larger quantities than has been approved for humans parker said
parker reiterates that the main defense against covid-19 continues to be the vaccination
parker worked on the front lines in washington dc last year assisting with the vaccine development through operation warp speed; he also served on the texas expert vaccine allocation panel earlier this year helping to organize the states vaccine rollout
the vaccines work said parker they do a great job of reducing your risk of severe disease and death and when you do have breakthrough infections they do a great job of helping keep the symptoms to a minimum the vast vast majority of people in hospitals with serious cases are from the unvaccinated population
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
bryan-college station aug 25 2021a team of researchers at texas a&m university northwestern university and immunogenesis have discovered a treatment for glioblastoma that has promising implications for the human version of the aggressive cancer form that grows in the brain
published today in clinical cancer research a journal of the american association for cancer research the study intratumoral delivery of sting agonist results in clinical responses in canine glioblastoma describes the results of a phase i clinical trial conducted at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) by dr beth boudreau an assistant professor of neurology
as part of the trial boudreau administered an immunotherapy drug developed by dr michael a curran an immunologist and founder of immunogenesis based on ongoing research that also included dr amy b heimberger scientific director of the malnati brain institute at northwestern university
the investigators tested a sting (stimulator of interferon genes) agonist injected directly into the glioblastoma of five dogs that had previously been diagnosed with the cancer which is the second-most common type of brain cancer in dogs sting agonists can induce immunological responses that allow the immune system to fight otherwise immunologically resistant cancer cells
mri scans taken of the patients over the course of the 10-month trial revealed that some of the dogs even with single dose responded to the treatment with apparent reductions in their tumor volume including one complete response in which the tumor appeared to completely disappear leading the team to conclude that this therapy can trigger a robust innate anti-tumor immune response and may be highly effective on recalcitrant tumors such as glioblastoma
with this therapy we were trying to take tumors that do not on their own generate a lot of immune response and turn them into tumors that do by injecting them with this immunotherapy agent boudreau said
this clinical trial was based on earlier research by the teamincluding dr jonathan levine a neurology professor and head of the cvmbs small animal clinical sciences department (vscs)which analyzed a massive canine genomic dataset collected from multiple glioma samples they found that canine and human gliomas are molecularly similar suggesting that the two diseases have a similar mutational cancer-causing process that would enable similar treatment strategies
both canine and human gliomas tend to have a poor prognosis as they are difficult to surgically remove and traditional therapies come with multiple side effects and are expensive even after a high-risk surgery to remove the tumor and radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy humans with glioblastoma may only survive a few more months
in the canine clinical trial dogs did not receive surgery to remove their tumors which limited the dose we could safely deliver boudreau said in humans with glioblastoma our sting agonist will be combined with surgery which should improve its safety and efficacy further investigation and refinement would be needed to determine the role of this therapy in treating brain tumors in dogs
because of the simple delivery of the sting agonist and the marked volume reduction of the tumor the researchers also believe this strategy may provide a viable adjunct therapeutic approach for human glioma
heimberger and curran are exploring using a similar approach in clinical trials of human glioma patients who have undergone a surgical debulking
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dr molly gonzales an instructional assistant professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) has received funding from the iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship (idals) to conduct a qualitative study of iowa livestock producers to determine training needs on foreign animal disease (fad) preparedness
as modern agriculture in iowa has grown and concerns surrounding global animal health incidents have increased the iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship continues to work diligently to ensure iowa veterinarians and producers are informed regarding current state processes to deal with a fad outbreak
gonzales resources will be leveraged to assess gaps in iowas preparedness and provide data that can be used moving forward to address those gaps
to gather the data and critical feedback needed to develop and refine fad response plans for the state gonzales will host species-specific focus groups across iowa to better understand producers:
three idals experts will offer their expertise in the development of focus group questions and in the hosting of these sessions once completed the aggregate summary of the feedback gained through these sessions will be developed into a framework around which idals will develop a plan of action for future fad training and outreach opportunities targeted at producers and veterinarians across iowa
gonzales principal investigator has more than 10 years of experience in curriculum development and instructional design in addition to extensive experience working with state and federal entities she will work closely with the idals working group and faculty at the texas a&m center of educational technologies (cet) to design structure and host the focus sessions across iowa
this study will build on her previous research on foreign animal disease and on emergency preparedness and response at the state national and international levels
about research at the center for educational technologies: at the forefront of education the cet works to advance education by developing implementing and evaluating innovative educational tools and resources research conducted at the cet represented annual expenditures of more than $1 million in fiscal year 2021 the cet continues to serve our state nation and world through research teaching and entrepreneurial endeavorsall of which are centered on providing engaging and rigorous online learning resources
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the addition of 18 students in the inaugural 2+2 dvm program at the veterinary education research and outreach facility in canyon brings the texas a&m cvmbs class of 2025 to 180 students
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) welcomed 180 first-year students to its doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program today making the class of 2025 the largest class of veterinary students in the nation
in addition to the 162 students beginning class in college station the first day of dvm classes also marks the launch of the 2+2 program which includes 18 veterinary students who will spend the first two years of their curriculum at the new veterinary education research and outreach (vero) facility on the west texas a&m university campus in canyon
through the 2+2 program the cohort of 18 will return to college station for the final two years of their education which includes fourth-year clinical rotations at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) the states only veterinary teaching hospital
we have a standard of excellence thats been set for over 100 years said cvmbs dean dr john r august we took the time to carefully build this program to hire faculty who are not only excellent educators but experienced veterinary practitioners and to make sure these students are receiving an education that lives up to those very standards
the start of classes at vero reflects texas a&ms commitment to increasing the states supply of rural and large animal veterinary practitioners and is the culmination of texas a&ms efforts to expand its nationally ranked veterinary medical program into the texas panhandle and high plains regions
the new 22 000-square foot vero building which opened earlier this year on the west texas a&m university campus includes state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory spaces in the heart of the panhandle
unique to the vero program is that the faculty teaching at the vero campus are also cvmbs faculty who are part of the same departments as their college station counterparts facilitating collaborations on curriculum and research cvmbs faculty also will support student learning by traveling to teach at both campuses throughout the year
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from the moment jack price was first assigned to work with viki a german shepherd/belgian malinois mix he knew she was more than just another canine partner
viki and i relied on each other in both a working capacity and an emotionally supportive one said price who served on contract under the us department of defense
together they served for two years as an explosives detection team in iraq searching vehicles and compound exteriors and conducting random antiterrorism measures (rams) for any explosive materials that could threaten us interests
its a different relationship that any handler develops with their dog price said youre away from your family and the dog becomes your family they look out for you and you try your best to look out for them too
price developed such a strong bond with viki that when the first year of his contract was coming to its end he chose to stay in iraq for an additional year so he could have the opportunity to adopt viki if she was deemed eligible for retirement because viki had a history of transitional vertebrae and hip dysplasia typically non-life-threatening conditions common in her breed that are often exacerbated in working dogs price was determined to let her live out the rest of her life in a peaceful retirement
once back home in alabama they finally had the opportunity to enjoy life simply as a dog and owner but as time went on viki now 10 years old developed an allergy to her pain medication and began to increasingly show signs that she was hurting
vikis veterinarian confirmed her original diagnosis and said the only real treatment possibility was surgery so price began searching the internet for a solution
i saw the gary sinise foundation (gsf) post on reddit about the fund and that they had partnered with texas a&m price said i found the foundations website and submitted all of vikis information; just a couple of hours later nick wicksman (the gsf outreach assistant) called and wanted to know more
i was overwhelmed shocked and very thankful he said they got in touch with someone at a&m and asked me if i could arrange to get her there soon i said ‘wherever you need me to go ill take her
little did price know as he and viki began the trip from alabama to college station that he was the first person to receive financial aid from the gsf fund
at the texas a&m small animal teaching hospital viki underwent a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (tplo) procedure to repair an early tear of her cranial cruciate ligament similar to an acl tear in humans as the first step in addressing her overall condition
according to cvmbs orthopedic surgeon dr brian saunders viki was an ideal candidate for the procedure because the tear in her ligament had not yet progressed to the point where it caused irreversible damage
vikis prognosis related to the knee is excellent saunders said in some cases tplo can stop the progression of acl degeneration allowing the remaining acl to function and provide important support to the knee
so in a case like viki where there was an early partial ligament tear after tplo the knee is unlikely to develop arthritis or injury to other structures inside the knee he said
i would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the gary sinise foundation the texas a&m college of veterinary medicines orthopedic and neurology services clanton animal hospital nick wicksman and mr sinise price said because of their initiative and coordinated efforts viki and many more working dogs quality of life will not suffer just because their working dog career has ended my family and i are looking forward to spending many more years with a happy and healthy viki thanks to them
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
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an overwhelmingly successful chick fostering experiment conducted by the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) the macaw society will greatly improve the number of scarlet macaw chicks that survive and fledge (fly away) from their nests each year
dr gabriela vigo-trauco a cvmbs postdoctoral research associate and co-director of the macaw society has spent the past decade studying scarlet macaws nesting behavior and refining a new system for introducing chicks to foster parents
vigo-traucos interest in macaws began as a young child but her interest in the survival of macaw chicks specifically began during her last year of college at the universidad nacional agraria la molina in lima peru
i started studying the behavior of macaws in tambopata and saw that they dont feed all of their chicks the same amount of food and that they dont give them the same amount of parental care they would favor the first chick give less to the second one and pretty much ignore the third and fourth vigo-trauco said this created a brood in which the first chick survived to fledge the second one died sometimes and the third and fourth ones never survived
her research done in collaboration with cvmbs associate professor dr donald brightsmith and rony garcia-anleu of guatemalas wildlife conservation society was published in diversity and was part of vigo-traucos dissertation for her phd in wildlife and fisheries sciences awarded in may 2020
my big question was ‘for those chicks being discarded by nature how can i recover them and put them back in the population to try to increase the macaws numbers she said
she began her work by installing cameras in man-made macaw nesting boxes to monitor the macaws interactions with their chicks
after determining that a lack of food was not the cause of the birds behavior vigo-trauco realized that as the time between when the first and second chicks hatched grew longer it became less likely that the parents would care for the chicks equally
building off of a study done in guatemala she developed the idea of removing the second chicks from their nests and giving them to a different set of macaw parents that would be willing to care for them either because they lost their own chicks to predation poachers or natural factors or because their chicks were already grown enough to need less care
when the second chick hatches four days after the first it was more than 80% likely to die of starvation i would collect these chicks and raise them in our research center for 22 days or until they opened their eyes then we placed them in different nests she said in normal conditions that chick would have died but after i placed it back in a nest it survived to fledge
vigo-trauco recalls initially being extremely nervous that the foster parents would ignore or even attack the new chick but by the end of the project her team placed 28 chicks into new nests and saw every one accepted by its foster parents
i was not ready for such a great acceptance she said if it had been over 50% i would have been super happy and said that the technique had potential but our report was so good that it was a really big happy success
determining the details of this technique took years of research and trial and error plus input from avian experts at texas a&m and beyond
it also required an army of guacamayeros or macaw assistants to help with climbing trees nest observations and working with the chicks
we integrated three separate fieldsparrot ecology avian veterinary medicine and aviculture (the breeding of birds)to come up with little tricks to make the techniques work better in the field vigo-trauco said it was really interesting because when you are trained in parrot ecology you are trained to watch let nature be and take notes but a veterinarian is trained to act and try to save the chicks with the integration of the three fields we came up with a really nice plan
as an example because the aviculture people knew it would take time for a chick that had been hand-raised to learn how to beg for food we decided that we would give the chicks supplemental food for their first 10 days in the foster nest she said
once the chicks were accepted by their foster parents they were raised with the same care and attention as the parents birth chicks while a few chicks died from external causes (predation and lightning) all of the other foster chicks went on to fledge and fly free with their foster parents
as the macaw society begins sharing these successful results with colleagues in central and south america vigo-trauco looks forward to continuing to apply the research she has devoted so many years of her life to
it was a really intense project especially because i had a baby in the middle but to have the paper published is very very rewarding vigo-trauco said its really wonderful to feel like all of my research and investment in taking the data is going to be applied to real conservation
it was an extra plus that i was able to study a species i really love and take my daughter to the rainforest to see me climbing trees and waking up at 4 am to go check macaw chicks she said i was able to show her in real life how to accomplish what you really want to do
follow the macaw society on facebook to learn more about their current projects and view livestreams of macaw nests in costa rica
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) director dr wesley bissett should have known it was going to be a unique year when the teams first 2020 deployment was to the texas a&m university campus itself
in march the team helped organize the covid-19 response for the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) putting to work their experience in shelter management as the hospital moved to curbside admissions and discharge processes as part of their scaled-back operations
the vmth response was fascinating and i think our deployment experience definitely assisted with making what was done here successful bissett said it wasnt completely unlike a normal deployment where we go into a disaster area; these are typically chaotic and our charge is to very quickly and efficiently establish a veterinary medical operation i wouldnt say the vmth situation was chaotic but it was rapidly evolving
in addition to new intake procedures for both small and large animals the response included rerouting the traffic flow around the building to allow clients to stay in their cars while their animals were cared for and establishing protocols for decontaminating pets that may have been in proximity to an ill owner many of the procedures that the vet helped implement are still ongoing at the vmth
we plan and train for this and it allows us to very quickly make decisions and adapt to the situation at hand bissett said i hope that our experience and approach played at least some role in what i see as a highly effective operation
the remainder of the year was a busy one for the vet; the team deployed five more times including a tornado response in polk county a hurricane response to hurricane laura an out-of-state deployment to california and two single-member deployments one of which became the vets first foray into human medical response
veterinary is obviously in the name of the vet so a request to assist with an emergency in human medicine was a new one for bissett
in may he was requested by the texas division of emergency management (tdem) to serve as the operations section chief for the epidemiology unit working on case investigations and contact tracing of covid-19 in the states panhandle region at the time the panhandle was one of the hottest spots in the country for covid-19 transmission
the experience gave bissett an early respect for the virus
i will always remember just how difficult this disease is he said i heard so many discussions of how people were struggling to overcome the disease and i wondered how many will return completely back to pre-infection status or condition
bissett managed a team within the texas department of health & human services (dhhs) public health region 1 which serves a 41-county area in the panhandle and south plains
it was an honor to be requested to serve during this deployment the vet has a very active deployment history and this experience combined with a veterinary medical knowledge-base led to a very successful deployment bissett said it also was another opportunity to serve beside the incredible group of people who make up the emergency management community in the state of texas we are fortunate in that our state has developed a very robust and capable group of individuals who are focused on serving the state and its citizens when disaster strikes covid-19 certainly qualifies as a disaster
the vet was built for the state of texas and its citizens to do whatever job they need of us he added this kind of response is consistent with the history and tradition of texas a&m aggies stand up even when it is not easy to do so and selflessly serve this state and nation that history is what drew me to texas a&m and i am so thankful for the example that has been so aptly provided by aggies in the past
one of the reasons bissett believes it was a successful deployment was the commitment of the people of the texas panhandle region
the people in the panhandle really did this in the right way he said they worked really hard to make sure that cases were isolated contacts were quarantined and that those requiring help received it everyone involved was definitely committed to serving their community
smoky air blurry vision and keeping track of working dog teams in two separate fire regions were just some of the challenges that dr deb zoran experienced on her deployment to oregon earlier this year
zoran has been with the vet since its inception so at this point shes no stranger to the chaos that comes with each deployment
its always an adventure she said
this summer wildfires killed 10 people and left 22 missing in central and southern oregon so in early september the federal emergency management agency (fema) responded by deploying urban search and rescue (us&r) teams to the area
zoranone of just three incident support team (ist) veterinarians in the whole countrywas charged with the care of the 12 us&r dogs that were deployed in the search and rescue effort
as the only veterinarian on-site zorans job was to ensure the safety and well-being of the us&r canines which were flown in from all over the nation these us&r dogs are either specifically trained to detect missing people who are still alive or live find or to find the bodies of the deceased called human remains detection on this deployment zoran was working with the latter who were searching the rubble of burned homes destroyed by the fast-moving fires
over the course of the deployment zorans emergency management skills and experience were put to the test: because of the unique challenges of an active fire response one of the teams ran out of the bandage material necessary to protect the dogs feet
fires are obviously really dangerous she said normally it is best not to place bandages on dogs feet because they use their feet to grip when theyre working on rubble or theyre climbing terrain but when theres an active fire and the burned out structures may still be exceptionally hot or they must search areas that may still have active hot spots the dogs feet need protection that is best provided with specially constructed bandaging
twelve dogs needing bandage changes several times a day created a bandage shortage but zorans experience in the logistics and command side of response proved valuable and she was able to quickly utilize the fema resource request system to get more supplies on the ground
having someone with her experience is typically a rarity for us&r teams which is something zoran has been at the forefront of trying to change
my opinion is that there should be a veterinarian or a veterinary technician at least anytime a us&r team deploys their canines into a disaster environment she said each team deploys a paramedic so if a team member gets injured theres somebody there in the event of injury
but thats not true for the working dogs except in a few specific cases like texas a&m task force 1 for example she said one of my goals is to help change the system to make sure a veterinarian or vet tech is on each team; my other goal is to be sure that those dogs and those teams are supported when theyre in the mission
each year it seems the national recognition of the vet grows and as it does the team is increasingly asked to assist in new areas from bissetts single-person deployment in the texas panhandle to zorans efforts to increase the awareness of animal care in the national us&r response the vet continues to lead the way in animal disaster response
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr lori teller a clinical associate professor of telehealth at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been elected as the incoming president of the american veterinary medical association (avma)
teller will serve as president-elect for august 2021-2022 and then as president for august 2022-2023 she will be the avmas first female president to have raised a child while in practice as well as one of two candidates from the first female-only race for the position
texas a&m university has a long history of producing leaders at the national level we are extraordinarily proud that one of our own will once again lead the profession of veterinary medicine said dr john august dean of the cvmbs on behalf of all of my colleagues in our college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences i wish dr teller every success in her new roles we are very proud of this latest recognition of her many contributions to veterinary medicine
as president-elect teller will assist avma president dr josé arce serve on the board of directors and be the presiding officer at all house of delegates sessions
her priorities for the avma include increasing support for veterinarians and veterinary support staff to reduce burnout and create a steady job market
the veterinary profession continues to grapple with issues around well-being teller said veterinary medicine is hard and our issues are serious but we can still take joy in what we do every day and have fun working together to make things better i love being a veterinariani knew at the age of 6 that this is what i wanted to do and to this day i cannot imagine doing anything else i would do it all over again and i plan to share that passion and enthusiasm with my colleagues and our students
i will continue to help the avma advance our initiatives to improve diversity equity and inclusion in the veterinary profession this is something that will take time and we must continue to move forward she said i will also help the veterinary profession adapt to the increasing usage of telemedicine artificial intelligence and machine learning and other new technologies so that we can appropriately incorporate these things into our patient care and remain on the cutting edge
teller was elected during the avma house of delegates meeting in chicago held from july 29 through aug 1 she was installed and assumed her new position during the first regular meeting of the board of directors on july 31
teller joined the cvmbs in 2018 as the first full-time telehealth veterinarian in academia she leads the colleges virtual vet telehealth program at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and prepares veterinary students to use telemedicine in their future careers
she has been a member of the avma since 1990 and recently served as vice chair and chair of the board of directors teller has also served as chair of the state advocacy committee and has been a member of the house of delegates and several other committees
in july 2017 she played a key role in formulating the avmas official policy on telemedicine
she has also served as president of both the harris county and texas veterinary medical associations (tvma) she received the visionary of the year award from the southwest veterinary symposium in 2019 and the tvma presidents award in 2007 2009 and 2016
the avma has had only three other female presidents in its history one of whom was dr bonnie beaver a professor at the cvmbs and the colleges first female faculty member
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
like with many things in life the best way to prepare for an emergency response is to practice
last week texas a&m university entities including the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) texas a&m agrilife extension service and texas a&m health science center (texas a&m health) practiced their emergency response as part of operation lone star
operation lone star sponsored by the texas department of state health services (dshs) is an annual preparedness exercise that started in 1999 to give emergency response teams a chance to set up and operate clinics similar to what would be used in a public health emergency to also give the teams the experience of working with patients in the field the exercise provides services to the nearby population and as a result has become one of the nations largest humanitarian efforts
the texas a&m vets temporary clinic in raymondville was a popular stop during operation lone star 2021 and dshs regional health director emilie prot said the team was in a perfect location to maximize its impact
we are very grateful for the services provided by the texas a&m vet she said willacy county currently does not have a veterinarian in the entire county and pet health is important to keeping our community safe our animals are part of the family and during a disaster they can become a challenge we wish to educate our community to be prepared in case of an evacuation working with the whole team has been a pleasure and we are looking forward to the start of a partnership going forward
this was the first time that the exercise has included veterinary services and in five days the team cared for 735 animals by providing wellness checks and vaccinations according to college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences dean dr john august participating in the operation was an easy call
i had an opportunity to see operation lone star in action firsthand in july 2019 when i was in the school of public health he said i left very impressed from that experience with the impact the program made on families especially children along the border who did not have ready access to healthcare so i was delighted earlier this year when texas a&m healths interprofessional education & research (iper) program extended an invitation to our college to participate for the first time
august saw the vets operation first-hand and said he was impressed by the teamwork and level of care the team was able to provide
i returned from my visit to raymondville this year extraordinarily proud of the whole vet team involving faculty technical staff and students he said it was a complicated deployment under difficult and very hot conditions that our group provided primary care and wellness examinations for more than 730 dogs and cats is an astonishing accomplishment and a kindness that the animal-loving families of the town will not soon forget i truly hope that this is the first of many future collaborations in operation lone star for our college and our participants in this years program deserve my very sincere thanks for a job well done
it was also the first time the vet was able to utilize its newest vehicle an evacuation trailer donated earlier this year by the banfield foundation with temperatures in the mid-90s all week the trailer was used to house dogs in the air conditioning while they waited to be returned to their owners the banfield foundation also provided additional support for the operation by donating medication and other supplies
this was a really valuable experience for our team for a number of reasons said vet director dr wesley bissett not only did this give us a chance to set up and use our equipment like a normal exercise but we also got to make an impact on the local community
with more than 30 participating vet members the exercise was a great example of how all aspects of health care can come together to make an impact bissett added
this is just one more example of how veterinary medicine along with public health and all of the health disciplines is necessary for the overall health and well-being of a community he said
a key highlight of the trip was the return of veterinary students to the team because of the covid-19 pandemic it had been almost two years since students had been able to deploy participating students included not only the fourth-year veterinary students on the vet clinical rotation but thanks to the support of the association of former students also included students from the primary care service rotation and second and third-year volunteers from the student veterinary response team
this was an eye-opening experience and it really showed what our true potential is not only individually but as a team said fourth-year student adil kassam this was a stressful environment but we didnt fall apart; we came together and solved problems
one of the big takeaways for students like fellow fourth-year caroline cunningham was being able to directly see the help theyre providing to the community
ive really appreciated this opportunity to deploy with the vet cunningham said theyve worked hard to make sure we are all getting as much hands-on experience as possible which ive really enjoyed this trip has connected me back to the human-animal bond and has been a great reminder of why i want to be a veterinarian
a vet response almost always includes a coordinated response from the agrilife extension and operation lone star was no exception but while agrilife extension agents deploying with the vet is nothing new it was the first joint operation since the formation of agrilife extensions new disaster and recovery (dar) unit
eighteen dar agents from across the state including many on their first animal-related deployment deployed to raymondville and assisted at every level from logistics to command
they along with the vet treated the exercise like a real-world deployment which included staying in tents on-site and using mobile platforms for logistics and providing medical care the major difference was that during a typical disaster deployment the dar agents are instrumental in securing food for livestock and other large animals
dar unit director monty dozier phd said that it was a successful operation to practice for a deployment but also that it was good to see the combination and depth of skills the team can bring together for example he pointed out that having nine military veterans in the unit gave them a wealth of experience in logistics and operational organization
this really gave us a unique opportunity to practice a deployment dozier said the only real difference between this and a real-world deployment was the preparation time and that we were only dealing with small animals
while the first-year vet response was centered at one location texas a&m had representatives at multiple operation lone star locations in addition to raymondville including laredo and rio grande city
texas a&m healths iper has been coordinating texas a&m participation in operation lone star since 2018 this year in addition to veterinary medicine participating units included the college of pharmacy the school of public health the college of education and human developments counseling psychology program and the college of agriculture and life sciences department of food and nutrition science
ten faculty members and 32 students from these units provided immunizations medication reconciliations telebehavioral health services nutrition and tobacco cessation education and data collection for the event
in all more than 100 people took part in texas a&ms efforts during operation lone star which typically provides approximately 40 000 services to 9 000 people annually
this event is a unique opportunity for students to work in teams across professions and make a significant and ongoing impact on the health of rio grande valley residents said iper executive director chris kaunas this operation is part of our emerging vision for a three-pronged interprofessional disaster response curriculum that also includes a virtual disaster day and a live disaster day
kaunas said the operation is not only a great opportunity for students to make an impact but is also a critical part of staying ready
we are fortunate to have the texas division of emergency management (tdem) as a texas a&m system entity and partner in these efforts she said weve all seen the impact of the pandemic and in a state that sees so many natural disasters its important that our health professions students have opportunities to gain these vital disaster response skills
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dimitri del castillo had a zest for life a commitment to excellence a passion for service and a genius for leading others that charismatic combination helped the houston native graduate from the united states military academy at west point and become an army ranger those traits were also critical in ensuring that all the men in his platoon survived during a 2011 firefight with the taliban in afghanistan sadly that battle which lasted about eight days took dimitris life as well as seven soldiers in other units and a military dog named agdar
dimitris bravery and sense of duty spurred his elementary school teacher linda mccormick to establish the veterinary valor fund in memory of dimitri del castillo at texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) in his memory the endowed fund created through the texas a&m foundation kickstarts a program to help the colleges nationally recognized veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) provide top veterinary care to military dogs with unexpected veterinary medical bills medically retired veterans service dogs and vmth patients whose owners are active military service personnel
it is so important that we recognize the sacrifices active military members and veterans have made said sheila carter 91 vmth associate director we envision this fund as a tangible way to show servicemen and women how much texas a&m appreciates and values their service
known for its compassionate professionalism and cutting-edge care the teaching hospital includes facilities for small and large animals and offers a wide range of specialized services prior to the veterinary valor programs creation in august 2019 approximately 120 veterans tapped other non-endowed hospital funds to defray medical costs for their animals
the creation of this endowed fund by mrs mccormick will help ensure that current military personnel and veterans have access to life-saving care for their animals added carter
dimitris father carlos del castillo described his son as an average american kid with an infectious laugh which was one of his endearing qualities he marched to the beat of his own drum and always wanted to have the maximum experience in life
the family always tried to find special ways to celebrate lifes milestones for example carlos and his wife catherine planned a surprise for their children at the end of each school year one year dimitri and his siblings left the school bus and were greeted by a black labrador puppy named shadow who became the familys first dog
as a young boy dimitri was assigned to mccormicks third-grade class at nottingham country elementary school in katy isd he was a dream student she remembered he was smart quiet courteous and had a warm smile all the time
mccormick lost touch with dimitri after he left her class but the two reconnected when she sent him a card marking his high school graduation dimitri responded with a thank you card and they stayed in touch while he was at west point and fort benning
dimitri began displaying an interest in the military as a young boy thanks to relatives who served in the us armed forces he eventually set his sights on west point although he also considered attending texas a&m the young mans commitment to a life of service deepened when he heard then-president george w bush address the west point cadets about the importance of leadership during a time of war
dimitri was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant with the us army upon graduation from west point after earning his airborne wings and completing the basic officer leadership course and the mortars officers leadership course he qualified as a us army ranger and was assigned to the 2nd battalion 35th infantry regiment 3rd brigade combat team 25th infantry division he was stationed in hawaii before being deployed to afghanistan
his leadership skills were tested during his deployment in kunar province afghanistan but the officer developed a deep bond with his unit he led people spiritually physically and professionally carlos said he talked to people about his walk of faith and love of god and got them to go to church with him physically he helped people pass their physical fitness tests he also worked on their professionalismhow to be a better leader and how to get to know their men
during his last battle which was an assault on the taliban dimitri maintained his forward position and called in airstrikes as his unit was attacked he was killed holding the radio mic in his hand he knew what he was walking into but he never showed fear carlos said he always maintained his focus and was concerned for his men
after the battle surviving members of the unit held a memorial service for dimitri and his comrades dimitris boots those of the soldiers in other units in his battalion who were killed and agdars collar were displayed during this service which honored their valor for his bravery dimitri earned the bronze star the purple heart and the army commendation medal
when dimitri was killed in action mccormick looked for ways to honor her former student she thought about a previous gift that she and her husband mack mccormick 74 made to the cvmbs in memory of an aggie who was a long-time friend she also thought about dimitris boyhood pet shadow as well as agdar
as she considered her options mccormick remembered the care her own dogs received at the vmth i noticed how costly it was to get animals taken care of so i started inquiring about the possibility of creating a fund she said i worked with development officer monika blackwell who was so diligent in helping me create this fund
ultimately mccormick was drawn to the idea of celebrating dimitris valor i wanted to do this knowing that dimitri died in afghanistan which was so brave she said i have a deep respect for him he had a great deal of commitment and knew the risks but he fought for our country and freedom
the del castillo family remains very touched by the retired teachers gift it was a wonderful surprise and mrs mccormick has an amazingly generous heart to make this happen carlos said those who knew dimitri miss him immeasurably he taught everyone he met to believe in yourself and know that youre capable of much more
the veterinary valor fund in memory of dimitri del castillo accepts donations online from other donors for more information please contact larry walker senior director of development for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at lwalker@txamfoundationcom or by phone at 9798459043 give online at giveam/vetvalordimitriinc
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
every day is hump day at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) winnie carter wildlife center (wcwc) now that camels crimson and casper have joined the community of exotic animals that call the center home
three-year-old crimson and 2-year-old casper both dromedary (one-humped) camels were donated to the wcwc after crimson was diagnosed with fibrous osteodystrophy a chronic condition that would require a special diet and routine medical care for the rest of her life
unfortunately this condition is something we see pretty commonly in domestic camels in the united states said dr evelyn mackay a cvmbs clinical assistant professor and crimsons primary veterinarian at the texas a&m large animal teaching hospital (lath)
fibrous osteodystrophy is a bone disease caused by deficiencies in calcium and vitamin d and an excess of phosphorus which leads the affected animals body to reabsorb calcium from bones the calcified bone is then replaced by fibrous connective tissue or bundles of collagen fibers found in tendons and ligaments which causes swelling and pain
when crimson came in both her mandible (lower jaw) and her maxilla (upper jaw) were swollen mackay said we started with x-rays and as we expected the bone was less dense than it should be
parasites in crimsons gastrointestinal tract may have also played a role in the development of the condition because they can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients appropriately which may exacerbate some of the deficiencies in this disease
crimson is an adolescent so this is the time when her bones are supposed to be growing mackay said shes a little bit more vulnerable than a mature camel would be in terms of getting a disease like this because her overall nutritional requirements are higher
after being given anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce her pain and de-wormer for gastrointestinal parasites crimsons treatment was largely nutritional
the biggest thing for crimsons treatment was to change her diet to have a more appropriate calcium to phosphorous ratio supplement vitamin d and feed her more alfalfa hay beet pulp and other foods with a high calcium content mackay said
because of crimsons special needs her original owner maribeth yarbrough decided that the camel would have a better life at the wcwc surrounded by experienced veterinarians and only minutes away from the lath but crimson wasnt at the wcwc very long before her best friend casper came to join her
it was a very much a surprise that within a week after we had gotten crimson maribeth said she hated that crimson was alone and she wanted to give us casper too said dr alice blue-mclendon director of the wcwc she said she cried when casper left but she wanted crimson to be happy
crimsons veterinarians believe she was diagnosed early enough that her new diet should minimize her current swelling and prevent any progression of the disease
we dont think she is currently in any pain because shes eating well and doing great in the pasture blue-mclendon said shes gained a lot of weight since she left the hospital which is really good
in addition to spending the rest of their lives being pampered at the wcwc crimson and casper will help introduce cvmbs veterinary and undergraduate students in the wcwcs hands-on experiential-learning program to camel care and medicine
this is an excellent learning opportunity for our students blue-mclendon said these are the only camels on campus so the students can come see them and learn about fibrous osteodystrophy
as time goes on blue-mclendon and the rest of the wcwc staff look forward to seeing how the camel best buddies continue to settle in at their new forever home
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
from umpire to business owner to veterinarian chris tiller has pursued a diverse range of careers during his life always taking advantage of new opportunities to follow his passions
as a third-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) he is currently working toward one of his childhood dreams of becoming a veterinarian like his father
his other dream which he followed first was to have a career in professional baseball
baseball was my first passion tiller said i played from a young age at junior college and at southwest texas state university (now texas state university) i was a computer science major and decided two and a half years in that it wasnt something i wanted to do anymore i decided to try something else for a while and thats why i went to umpire schoolto figure out what i really wanted to do
he enrolled in the jim evans umpire academy in coco beach florida and began a rigorous eight-week program to become a professional umpire
it was a lot of seeing what youre made of and if you can handle the stress of somebody yelling at you all of the time he said it was about four hours a day of learning the rules and then in the afternoons we would go to the field and have field simulations
during his long days at school tiller discovered a passion and skill for umpiring and began his career after graduating in 2000
he umpired his first game in princeton west virginia as part of the appalachian league a professional summer baseball league he then moved into the professional minor leagues first the midwest league followed by the florida state league texas league and pacific coast league
i enjoyed the goal-oriented nature of the profession tiller said i knew on day one of my job in the minor leagues that making it to the major leagues was not guaranteed and at minimum it would take six years to accomplish my goal it took around 1 500 minor league games before i worked my first game in the major league
in 2007 he finally made the jump to major league baseball with his first game in milwaukee wisconsin where the milwaukee brewers played the atlanta braves
i had worked the night before in albuquerque and i got a call at midnight saying i needed to be on the first flight out he said i called my dad who also flew out from texas the next morning to watch my first major league game
as much as he loved umpiring tiller began to notice the toll that his careers schedule took on his family
i have a very supportive family and a very loving and understanding wife everything i do im doing for my family
it wasnt a lifestyle that was conducive to being a family guy he said i went to work at 6 pm and got back to the hotel at 11 then i went to bed at 6 am and woke up at 2 pm so i was living the reverse of everybody else
i finally stopped umpiring because i missed my second son being born while i was flying from arlington to miami for a game he said
in the meantime tiller had started a trucking business with his brother in 2008 and when he decided to take full ownership five years later he officially retired from his career in baseball
he built his company up to a fleet of 60 trucks that traveled all over the country to serve the oil business; then in 2016 he felt called to begin a new journey while visiting the mixed animal clinic in waskom owned by his father dr robert tiller 76
i saw my second son working with my dad and all of my childhood memories from the clinic snapped back tiller said being a veterinarian was a goal i had as a young kid and now the timing was finally right
i told my wife ‘i think i want to go to veterinary school he said she replied ‘well its about time
he chose to follow in his fathers footsteps by applying to texas a&m fulfilling another childhood dream
since being accepted he has used his experiences from his past careers to help him manage the difficult and time-consuming nature of veterinary school
i felt very blessed and fortunate to get in tiller said i knew id have to work hard but baseball taught me to take it one day at a time and set individual goals in order to achieve my long-term goal
now in his third year at the cvmbs tiller feels reassured that he chose the correct time to pursue veterinary medicine
at 19 years old i didnt have the study habits that the young adults im in school with now have he said i had the drive but my drive wasnt for veterinary school
through student organizations and a study group tiller has found many ways to connect with his classmates despite the age gap he enjoys taking the opportunity to pass along the life lessons he has learned over the years to the students who have yet to begin their first careers
ive told a bunch of people here that the moment you realize youre not happy doing something move on he said lifes too short to not do what makes you happy
after graduation he plans to join his fathers clinic eventually taking over once his dad retires
i dont want such a great place that hes built up to go away with him tiller said the driving factor is that if my kids want the clinic it will be there i want my children to choose a life that makes them happy and if veterinary medicine happens to be the choice they make ill be holding down the fort for them
as he gets ready to begin what he plans to be his last career tiller is thankful for his familys support both now and since his days of umpiring
every time i changed careers my wife said ‘you have to do what you want to do he said i have a very supportive family and a very loving and understanding wife its also been good for my kids to see me work hard and hopefully that will instill in them what it takes to succeed in life everything i do im doing for my family
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
howdy may be the official greeting of texas a&m but to biomedical sciences (bims) graduate roberto lopez its more than just a simple greeting
you go to college station and theres not one person who doesnt say ‘howdy he said its like youre meeting a family not just meeting an institution; just saying ‘howdy enables you to open up
when you walk in and the first thing someone says is ‘howdy youre getting recognized he said it feels good its empowering youre not just a number and that to me is a big big tradition
for the last several years lopez has tried to bring that same feeling he got when visiting college station to the texas a&m higher education center in mcallen
lopez like all students in mcallen is an aggie the center isnt a system school; its an extension of texas a&m university where the students wear maroon receive aggie rings and even have home of the 12th man banners outside of the building
as a member of mcallens first biomedical sciences graduating class lopezs entire college experience has been one of firsts
in 2017 he was among the first to attend texas a&m classes in mcallen when the only major offered was engineering and the classes were held at a nearby junior college since the campus wasnt completed until 2018 that year helped him decide that his future lay elsewhere so he was one of the first mcallen students to change majors when biomedical sciences became an option in 2018
one year went by really fast and now its been four years; i look back and think ‘wow time has flown by he said hopefully my graduation is going to set an example for other studentsthat they are capable of completing a four-year degree here that being able to come here is an option
along with the academic firsts hes also had the opportunity to lay the groundwork for events that are already becoming traditions as a student event planner hes helped organize a staff and student soccer day an all-campus thanksgiving celebration and a student versus staff volleyball night
for lopez and the campus helping raise awareness that the higher education center at mcallen is part of texas a&m is one of the biggest goals because being an aggie is the reason he chose the center in the first place
lopez was accepted at the college station campus but when he looked at the cost of moving away from home it just didnt seem feasible
i read the newspaper and thats how i found out about the higher education center he said it said that texas a&m was going to do a program here so i immediately called the admissions department here in mcallen and asked about it they were only going to have engineering the first year but i thought ‘why not
i always wanted to be a part of the aggie family and i think it (the center) was a perfect choice for me he said i get to stay at home and do this amazing degree from texas a&m its one of the universities i always wanted to go to so my goal was to graduate from texas a&m
lopezs story is not uncommon among the students in mcallen according to academic adviser josette gonzalez 11 leaving home to go off to college for four years is simply not possible for many students
a lot of the times our students down here in the (rio grande) valley wear multiple hats she said not only are they first-generation college students attending a top-tier institution but theyre also caregivers we have students who live in multi-generational homes so they may be helping take care of their younger siblings or older grandparents and parents
so for texas a&m university to choose mcallen to have an extension of aggieland is opening up opportunities for generations to come she said now our students have the opportunity to get a top-tier education without having to leave their homes
lopez is hoping to go to medical school next
like many of his classmates hes seen the need for more medical professionals in the rio grande valley (rgv) dealing with covid-19 which hit the rgv harder than most other parts of texas brought home that goal of wanting to get an education and work to better his community
its given me a new perspective on life we have to value life more he said we knew how important life was before covid and we knew that we needed to graduate but sometimes we lose track of where we come from
this pandemic has made me realize whats important to me and for me whats most important is family he said being home during the pandemic made me realize that this is where i come from this is my family and i want to protect them
hes not alone in his goal to use his education to help protect his family one of the first student organizations established in mcallen was the border pre-med society an organization for not only biomedical sciences students but also students from the texas a&m school of public health
the need for more healthcare professionals combined with the fact that many students in the mcallen area cant leave home is exactly why college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences associate dean of undergraduate education dr elizabeth crouch is excited about the colleges involvement at the campus
i hope it will be a premiere place to look at one health in the rio grande valley in a way that is really impactful she said having a footprint for biomedical sciences in south texas is just really dynamite im very very excited about the future
i know that the mcallen campus is meant to grow crouch said right now its one building but it will continue to grow i think were going to see pretty significant growth there over the next 10 years or so
gonzalez agrees that a bright future is ahead for the campus and is proud that shes been part of it since the beginning
had texas a&m not chosen mcallen to put the higher education center our students would be missing out on something thats essentially going to change their lives gonzalez said all of the degrees brought to mcallen fulfill a need in the valley right now we have a shortage of health professionals so degrees like public health or biomedical sciences are going to be filling that need its going to be filled by the students who are from here who want to stay here work here and give back to the community
our students recognize that they can be founders and start a legacy for future aggies to come she said and when theyre applying to their professional schools and whatnot those schools will get to see that this student took initiative to start something that would last forever
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
new data on macaw movements gathered by the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) the macaw society has the potential to greatly improve conservation strategies for the scarlet macaw as well as similar species of large parrots
while the overall conservation status of the scarlet macaw is listed as least concern by the international union for conservation of nature the species is declining across much of central america and in other parts of its range in south america the species also shares its habitat with numerous endangered species and influences the ecosystems in which it lives
the macaw societys paper recently published in avian conservation & ecology is the result of the long-term research study of the ecology and conservation of macaws and other parrots in perus tambopata national reserve
historically the migratory movements of large parrots and macaws have largely remained a mystery because of the difficulty of tracking them over the long distances they travel the recent publication describing the discoveries made using satellite tracking of individual birds over large areas has shed some light on this mystery
the research teamconsisting of cvmbs associate professor dr donald brightsmith; cvmbs adjunct associate professor dr janice boyd; dr elizabeth hobson from the university of cincinnati; and charles randel from the southwestern wildlife survey in californiaused argos satellite telemetry (orbiting satellites that detect signals emitted from a transmitter attached to an animal) to track six scarlet macaws and four blue-and-yellow macaws over a period of eight years
they found that both macaw species had very large home ranges consisting of thousands of hectares (with 1 hectare equaling 2471 acres) and often traveled 20 to 40 km (approximately 12 to 25 miles) per day individuals of both species moved up to 160 km (99 miles) during the periods of low food availability likely searching for areas with dense patches of food trees
in southeastern peru there are really large protected areas a million hectares or so (approximately 247 million acres) but theres always pressure to use land versus conserve it brightsmith said so how do we as conservationists and scientists justify that we need to conserve such large areas why not just save 50 hectares and assume that everything will be able to survive
the reality is thats not the case he said in fact we found that a lot of the birds left protected areas and flew beyond the one million hectares
the team also discovered that after the breeding season ended nearly all of the macaws left the large national parks and protected reserves this highlights the importance of protecting more than just their nesting location
theres this whole other time of the year when theyre far away brightsmith said we need to be thinking about what they need to survive in that part of the landscape too
for this project the team overcame another challenge researchers have faced when trying to track macawsthe birds are extremely intelligent making it difficult to trap them and attach a transmitter that the birds couldnt remove
to solve this problem the researchers used a variety of trapping methods and special argos satellite telemetry collars developed in 2013 by brightsmith and boyd in collaboration with the electronics company telonics and other industry partners the system they developed will greatly improve macaw and parrot conservation methods and is already in use in belize costa rica guatemala and bolivia
our colleagues in guatemala have found that a lot of macaws will pick up from their breeding grounds in guatemala fly long distances to nearby mexico to spend the non-breeding season there and then move back understanding the birds ability to move from one big chunk of land to another and that those two populations are actually linked is very important brightsmith said it shows us what size area we have to be concerned about and where they are likely to be threatened by deforestation or hunting
the macaw societys next major projects will involve sharing knowledge and best practices with other researchers and conservationists in south and central america
a lot of what were doing now is advising organizations in costa rica brazil argentina mexico guatemala and other countries brightsmith said researchers and conservationists working in ‘parrot range nations have really stepped up the field is much more developed than it was when i got started and thats really wonderful
brightsmith hopes that the results from this project will not only have a direct impact on the macaws in peru but also positively impact other macaws and large parrots protect native habitats and increase public interest in conservation throughout the americas
macaws are really attractive; when people see them they are always super impressed so macaws are a good way to connect with regular people and communicate major conservation issues said dr gabriela vigo-trauco cvmbs postdoctoral research associate and co-director of the macaw society if you can convince people that its important to conserve one species and that species moves so much and needs so much forest you are in a good position to protect that entire space and everything else using it
follow the macaw society on facebook to learn more about their current projects and view livestreams of macaw nests in costa rica
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when peggy a pot-bellied pig arrived at the texas a&m large animal hospital (lah) showing signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction her veterinarians employed a rare combination of equine and human surgical techniques to save her life
the 9-month-old pig began showing signs of an obstruction including lethargy and lack of appetite in march 2020 leading her owner dan deweese to seek help from his local veterinarian at alvarado veterinary clinic
after they had no luck clearing the obstruction with iv fluids and medical management peggy was referred to the lah
when peggy arrived her veterinarians immediately began preparing a surgical plan
gi obstructions and obstipation (severe or complete constipation) are pretty common in pot-bellied pigs just because their diets tend to not always be very consistent said clinical associate professor dr jennifer schleining the lead veterinarian on peggys case
joined by surgery resident dr alyssa doering and internal medicine resident dr kari bevevino schleining was ready to perform surgery the same day peggy arrived if deemed necessary after viewing radiographs and peggys diagnostic workup they decided to proceed with an abdominal exploratory procedure
once the surgery began however they discovered that the obstruction was not caused by feed material or a foreign object inside the gastrointestinal tract but rather by the intestine itself a much less common occurrence
her obstruction was caused by a kink in the small intestine that had been there for quite some time schleining said it almost created a little ‘s from a couple of switchbacks in the intestine so nothing could get through
this kink was held in place by small bands of tissue called adhesions that can make abdominal organs stick together though the cause of peggys adhesions is unknown
the upside to having peggy come in and the uniqueness of her case is that shes provided educational material thats very relevant to the things that the students are learning in surgery classes
once the kink was relieved the veterinarians faced their next challenge
because the obstruction had been present for a while the circumference of the upper end of peggys intestine was much larger than that of the lower end knowing that they would be unable to join these ends together directly using a normal approach the surgeons employed a less common surgical technique sometimes used in horses and companion animals known as side-to-side anastomosis
this technique involves overlapping the segments of intestine before creating a new hole to connect them to do this they chose to use a piece of human surgical equipment rarely used in large animal medicine
because shes a smaller pig we were able to use a special stapling device called an ila stapler to complete the anastomosis schleining said it cuts down on the operative time considerably because we dont have to hand sew everything
since this equipment is designed for human bodies it is only useful in veterinary medicine for animals with anatomy similar to a humans luckily peggys intestines were the perfect size
its really fun to be able to get that instrument out and use it when we have a patient thats the right case schleining said we only get to use it maybe once or twice a year
both the procedure and the equipment used made peggys case a unique one for the lah and a great educational opportunity for the residents involved schleining said while veterinary students were not in the lah at the time because of covid-19-related restrictions schleining took extra measures to preserve the educational qualities of this case for them
knowing that the students couldnt be there with us we were very intentional about taking pictures of the procedure throughout and then creating a little case vignette she said its important to show them the steps in a real-life situation based on what they had practiced with their models during the course of the semester
the upside to having peggy come in and the uniqueness of her case is that shes provided educational material thats very relevant to the things that the students are learning in surgery classes schleining said even though the students werent able to participate peggy still contributes to learning opportunities by being here
after surgery peggy surprised her veterinarians by bouncing back extremely quickly going straight back to her food with none of the complications that can show up after abdominal surgery to be safe she was kept in the lahs intensive care unit for a week allowing her caretakers to get to know her adorable and unmatched personality
pigs are funny creatures and their personalities are really what i love most about them schleining said youve got some that are just like little grumpy old leprechauns that say ‘leave me alone and others that are super friendly and talk to you when you come in the barn and demand attention; they can be little prima donnas
peggy was definitely a prima donna always wanting attention schleining said she loved if you scratched her back and ears with a plastic forkshe would lay there and roll on her back so you could get her belly too she was a hoot!
though sad to say goodbye to their new piggy friend peggys veterinarians were glad when she could finally go home with deweese on april 9 2020
(peggy was able to leave so quickly because) we have a really dedicated owner who is committed to her care and knows that diet is important schleining said i think her future looks really bright largely because of her owner
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
almost everybody has a cancer storya story about how the disease has affected their life or the life of somebody they love
for stacy leblanc cancer played a part in one of the earliest losses of her life; she was just 12 years old when her 47-year-old mother died of cancer
but this isnt a sad story; instead it is a story of how as fate would have it the many challenges leblanc faced brought her to a place where she could combine a love for animals and medicine in unexpected ways and with unexpected results
that journey ultimately led her to a career at the university of texas md anderson cancer center in houston where as operations manager and later department administrator in the department of veterinary medicine and surgery she participated in the design of a state-of-the-art research animal facility and oversees 159 staff all in support of laboratory animal care
leblancs connection to cancer would also bring her to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) where a chance encounter would lead to the establishment of a fund that now supports k-9 heroes as they battle illnesses like the ones her team at md anderson works every day to develop treatments for
leblanc often returns to texas a&m to talk to pre-veterinary students about having a plan b for their lives in part because the idea of a plan b wasnt something she had ever considered for herself as an aggie undergraduate
leblanc had been laser-focused on a career as a veterinarian since her childhood and to achieve that goal she did it allshe worked as a veterinary technician at a local clinic; earned her bachelors degree in biomedical sciences and her masters degree in veterinary medical sciences with a focus on animal behavior; gained experience in small large and exotic animal medicine; worked with research animals in the labs of dr bonnie beaver and dr don hulse; managed the brazos county animal shelter on the weekends; and even served as the assistant dog catcher in navasota
i knew what i was getting into i knew what i wanted to do she said and then i didnt get into vet school
i only ever had plan a i could have gone to vet school somewhere else but a&m is the only place i wanted to be she said i tried three times and then decided against a fourth i got interviews every time but my prerequisite grades werent good enough
heartbroken leblanc found herself back at the same veterinary clinic she had worked at since she was a high school sophomore
but a chance encounter led her to a prayer breakfast during which a veterinarian from md anderson spoke about working with animals for cancer research and introduced her to a new career fieldlaboratory animal medicine
she initially turned down a job offer at md anderson but later realizing her mistake applied for and accepted a veterinary technician position at baylor college of medicine
her path from there took her on an upward trajectory through the fieldfrom healthcare into animal husbandry and welfarebefore an operations manager position allowed her to join md anderson working for dr kenneth gray the veterinarian from that prayer breakfast and a cvmbs outstanding alumnus
much like her veterinary experience leblancs 26 years with md anderson have included a variety of opportunities from operations to facility construction and design facility maintenance and security and department administration
its been a fun exciting and fulfilling career one that sometimes leaves leblanc in awe of all shes been able to accomplish
i thank god every day that i had to go to plan b because i have had the most spectacular career i could ever dream of she said if somebody would have said 32 years ago that i would design an animal facility for the no 1 cancer center in the world id say youre out of your mind construction no! but i did that id never have had that in private practice
in addition to the fortuitous encounter that led her into laboratory animal medicine leblanc has had several other serendipitous encounters that have allowed her passions to converge
in september 2019 she accompanied her friend leticia mcguffey to the texas a&m small animal hospital where mcguffeys dog had been treated for cancer while in the lobby leblanc overheard mcguffey talking with development officer monika blackwell
i got drawn into their conversation and we eventually started talking about a&ms police department getting a k-9 a few years ago leblanc said i asked monika if there were any mechanisms to donate to help cover costs of their care at that time there werent but monika worked with me to set up the help for k-9 heroes fund
the help for k-9 heroes endowment now supports the veterinary care of dogs from the law enforcement communityincluding police dogs explosive-detection k-9s and search-and-rescue dogsthat come through the sahs emergency service or any of the hospitals specialty services
leblancs affinity for working dogs was strengthened as part of her participation in the bureau of alcohol tobacco firearms and explosives (atf) citizens academy during which she toured the national canine training center where accelerant and explosives detection dogs are trained
ive always been a huge supporter of law enforcement i have law enforcement in my family but going through the citizens academiesive done several nowwhen i saw these dogs and experienced canine work i saw a whole different side of law enforcement that just really blew me away she said
because of her experiences both through the academies and as a manager she understands that even the most well-funded agencies have a finite amount of resources so she sees her fund as a way to give back
in some small agencies the canine program might not be funded at a level that could handle sending a dog to texas a&m for any kind of specialty treatment leblanc said with this fund if a small agency is trying to decide whether to retire a dog who otherwise could have more years of service and quality of life this can help them make that decision to send the dog here and get the help it needs
i know it sounds cliché but they do so much for us; this is a way of doing something for them she said
throughout leblancs career at md anderson shes witnessed medical advances that have fundamentally changed how we look at cancer
when my mom died of breast cancer in 1976 cancer was a death sentence if she were diagnosed today shed be a survivor she said my whole career has been dedicated to the care and welfare of laboratory animals in an effort to safely advance health care some of those treatments ive had a hand in developing even remotely have kept kids from losing their parents to cancers that used to be killers and also have saved dogs lives
when i was a young vet tech i worked with researchers who were developing these things called stents and nobody had ever heard of them now practically everybody over 50 has one or two she continued so i feel like what i do matters; its so gratifying
likewise leblanc knows that through her help for k-9 heroes fund she will impact untold numbers of dogs who will benefit from both the research conducted at md anderson and the care theyll receive at the sah
because the fund is for specialized care and emergencies i pray no dog would ever need it but that someone is able to benefit from my gift she says her voice breaking as she tears up and that im able to help somebody in some small way is very exciting im just over the moon about that
the help for k-9 heroes veterinary valor fund accepts donations online from other donors for more information please contact larry walker senior director of development for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at lwalker@txamfoundationcom or by phone at 9798459043 give online at giveam/k-9heroesendowment
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when the students first saw the two massive black-as-night percheron draft horses their faces filled with excitement and joy some of them had never interacted with a horse and they couldnt wait to approach the gentle giants
these young adults were visiting the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) as members of aggie achieve a program at texas a&m university for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (idd)
aggie achieve a four-year postsecondary education program allows young adults with idd to pursue their interests have a genuine college experience participate in on- and off-campus internships and earn a certificate in interdisciplinary studies from texas a&m university that will aid them in applying for jobs
in fall 2020 the cvmbs began offering the trailblazing course animals in society as part of the program setting new standards for inclusivity as the first veterinary college in the united states to offer a course for students with idd
the draft horses raven and rook visited the college in september for one of the courses weekly class sessions their owners doug and debbie halford are members of the texas draft horse and mule association and regularly give draft horse demonstrations
the lesson began with the students taking a few minutes to pet and brush the horses while the halfords discussed draft horse care and the history of their use in farming and war afterwards the halfords showed how they prepare the horses to demonstrate their impressive strength and the class ended with the students riding a sled pulled by the horse team
while learning about the draft horses and in all of their other animals in society classes the aggie achieve students are given a new perspective on the various roles working animals can play in their lives
the animals in society course was created by dr james herman a clinical professor in the cvmbs department of physiology & pharmacology (vtpp)
i was the chair for the universitys undergraduate curriculum committee when they started this new program called aggie achieve herman said i thought it was something that we at the college could help with because ive worked with people with varying disabilities and they usually find animals so captivating
to promote an inclusive community on campus all aggie achieve courses are conducted with a combination of achieve students and traditional undergraduates with differing requirements for each set of students
animals in society currently has six students enrolled three of whom are members of aggie achieve
all three of the aggie achieve students love animals and theyve never seen these types of things before herman said after 20-something years of teaching i enjoy doing something thats just fun
for each class herman covers a new subject related to animal history working animals or animal care with teaching assistance from veterinary technicians mandy zachgo and lisa roberts-helton
topics include the history of animal domestication animal first aid and the various types of working dogs and the important roles they play in our society
its a great experience for them and its actually great for us too because we get more people thinking about how animals are not just petsthey can be workers herman said if these students see a working dog they now know that the dog is doing a job and that its not a pet
im trying to give these students the opportunity to have a more expanded view of working animals and to have a greater understanding of these animals that theyre likely to encounter in everyday life he said
typically lessons include an interactive in-person experience for the students like the draft horse demonstration the class also has received visits from the texas a&m police explosive detection k-9s jackie and tyson and has visited the texas a&m veterinary emergency team response hub and the texas a&m winnie carter wildlife center
during one visit to the wildlife center the students took a tour to learn about the exotic species housed there and then created toys for the animals out of pumpkins
the students made holes in pumpkins with melon ballers and stuffed the pumpkins with grapes and banana pieces for the herbivores and pieces of meat for the exotic cats said dr alice blue-mclendon director of the winnie carter wildlife center it was educational for them and they enriched the animals lives i think they enjoyed watching the animals try to get the hidden food items; so overall it was a great success
with this group of students they seem to really like animals in general she said they were delighted to see the animals and lisa roberts-helton reports they really loved our six white-tailed fawns that weve been bottle raising and that those were their favorites
unlike most aggie achieve courses that are developed from an already-existing undergraduate course herman chose to create a brand new class for the program which then had additional requirements added for the undergraduates enrolled
the undergraduates have to do research projects while the aggie achieve students will identify an animal-related agency like k9s4cops and do a report on it at the end of the semester herman said
dr herman approached the aggie achieve program about designing a class with our students in mind said dr olivia hester the program director for aggie achieve its not every day that an instructor approaches the program about including our students in their classes
each of the three aggie achieve students currently enrolled in animals in society have stated that it has been their favorite course so far she said the hands-on experiences of this course have also made the students want to explore possible careers working with animals i think dr herman sees the value of inclusive classrooms for not only students with disabilities but for other students in the course as well
the goal of aggie achieve is that after completion the students will be prepared to find and succeed in jobs that match their strengths and interests
a fair number of the students in aggie achieve are very interested in working at a veterinary clinic at some point in their life so my goal for next semester is to begin to set up internships with a technician for them herman said
julia gault an aggie achieve freshman enrolled in animals in society hopes to work as a veterinary assistant after she completes the program she chose to take this class to learn more about animals
according to her the course has confirmed her desire to work with animals and has taught her information that will be extremely helpful in her future job
the class is so much fun gault said i really love it dr herman is awesome
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
its been over a year since t a 9-year-old english labrador underwent life-saving surgery to remove his pituitary gland at texas a&m universitys veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and according to owner brian prachyl the improvement in the dogs quality of life has been amazing
previously t could barely walk when wed take him out to the backyard he would be so exhausted when he got back to the house prachyl said now hes normal as far as his health and energy level and he can run again at full speed every day is a good day
this innovative surgery provides an important veterinary option for animals like t when the pituitary gland which plays a critical health role malfunctions
this surgery provides us with the ability to help patients who are not responding to our classic medical therapies said dr joseph mankin college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) clinical associate professor in neurology who conducted the surgery in tandem with doctors from washington state universitys (wsu) veterinary teaching hospital its an option that we didnt have until recently and its not available in many places in the country hopefully this will allow us to provide a service to a lot of those patients who need more extensive and more advanced therapies to get them back to a normal and good quality of life
ts health issues began at the age of 6 when he started having regular skin infections and constant hunger and thirst tests confirmed the diagnosis of cushings disease which causes a dogs body to produce too much cortisol a hormone related to stress
soon the dogs condition declined further as he began suffering extreme fatigue a weakened immune system muscle weakness skin lesions hair loss and deep-tissue staph infection all of these symptoms were linked to a growing tumor on the dogs pituitary gland
the pituitary gland helps regulate the hormones that influence the physical function in a dog or cat mankin said if a tumor grows in that area it can cause the pituitary gland to produce hormones that can result in endocrine diseases that medicine will not solve
this surgery provides us with the ability to help patients who are not responding to our classic medical therapies hopefully this will allow us to provide a service to a lot of those patients who need more extensive and more advanced therapies to get them back to a normal and good quality of life
these endocrine diseases include cushings disease in dogs and diabetes in cats this growth also can result in a tumor that causes pressure to build in the animals brain leading to the neurologic abnormalities that t was displaying previously these types of issues were treated through medication to manage the diseases symptoms but the drugs did not address the underlying problem
when t stopped responding to medications for cushings disease the prachyls made an appointment with the vmth however on the day before their journey to college station the dogs condition rapidly deteriorated
minutes after the vmths initial consult t was sedated and on the surgery table a veterinary surgeon spent three hours removing fluid build-up from behind the dogs eye socket that was caused by the swelling pituitary tumor
while t lost all sight in that eye his overall health rebounded thanks to treatment using an older class of medication designed to turn off the adrenal gland however when it was announced that the drug which was the only medication that t responded favorably to would be taken off the market the prachyls began to consider leading-edge surgery to remove ts pituitary gland
the goal of the surgery is to go in through the roof of the mouth to the base of the skull and use some very small instruments to do some delicate surgical techniques to remove the actual pituitary gland mankin said this allows us to have resolution concerning the excessive hormone production
the main risk with this surgery is for bleeding the pituitary gland is surrounded by vital arteries and if they are damaged the consequences can be significant he said
the prachyls decided that the innovative surgery was worth the risk
the operation took six painstaking hours to remove the dogs pituitary gland tumor which had tripled in size and was pressing on his brain but was ultimately successful
in the period since the surgery the prachyls have been able to wean the dog off of medication for the tumor the only reminder of his life-threatening health issues is that hes growing thick puppy fur as an adult dog which was caused by the increasing pressure that the tumor placed on ts brain
haz-mat an orange shorthair domestic cat faced a similar health journey to ts leading the vmth to become one of only a handful of veterinary facilities in the united states to successfully perform pituitary gland removal surgery from the brains of both a dog and a cat
when a veterinarian initially diagnosed the cat with diabetes in 2017 owner melody flowers worried haz-mat had additional health issues; he was having trouble regulating his appetite which led to significant weight gain and increased thirst and urination
flowers researched these symptoms and sought a referral to the vmth where dr millie grimes a veterinary resident agreed with flowers assessment and suggested the possibility of pituitary gland surgery
however two years passed before the vmth was prepared to work with wsu surgeons to do the surgery
we worked closely with the team from wsu to ensure that we were approaching these cases in the best and safest possible way with their assistance on patient selection the surgery itself and the postoperative care mankin said
during this period haz-mat developed obstructed breathing and hip pain in addition his diabetes required 30 units of insulin daily even though the cats blood sugar level could not be controlled
worried about her pet flowers opted for the surgery when it became available the surgery which also was performed by mankin during the same timeframe as ts went well and haz-mat made a complete recovery
shortly after surgery the cats need for insulin decreased from 30 units daily to four units daily; this resulted in a $450 monthly savings in medication costs now haz-mat is totally off insulin and is no longer diabetic; he only has to take easy-to-administer maintenance medications that replace the function of the pituitary gland
the surgery has been a game-changer for both of us he is back to enjoying his food and life hes coasting right now the waco resident said now i can live my life without needing to be chained to haz-mats medication schedule
dr grimes said this surgery would increase haz-mats quality of life and thats been completely 100% true flowers said i cannot be more complimentary of the vtmh in general and the people who work there they are really good people and quintessential professionals who are kind and thoughtful
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the institute for infectious animal diseases (iiad) a unit of texas a&m agrilife and the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences (cvmbs) recently hosted a virtual vaccine tabletop exercise
the event helped animal health experts from top beef dairy and swine states collaborate on vaccine plans for their respective states in the case of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
foot-and-mouth disease (fmd) if it were to impact the united states would be an economically devastating livestock disease affecting cattle pigs sheep and goats fmd does not affect human health nor food safety but it does hit the economy hard costing billions of dollars in lost trade
the us has not had an outbreak of fmd since 1929 us government agencies such as the us department of agriculture (usda) customs and border protection (cbp) and the department of homeland security (dhs) as well as various texas a&m university and texas a&m agrilife groups work every day to make sure it does not get back into the country
if fmd does make its way into the us events like iiad and cvmbs vaccine exercise serve as fire drills they help prepare key stakeholders like state and accredited veterinarians to stop the outbreak quickly and efficiently
preparedness just makes you better able to respond when an event does happen said dr susan culp texas a&m agrilife extension service veterinarian in the department of animal science in texas a&ms college of agriculture and life sciences and one of the events facilitators she described veterinarians as the first responders of animal health
were like fire and emts; we have to do exercises and planning to be prepared in case we actually get into the real thing she said
fmd is a viral disease that infects cattle pigs sheep and goats as well as wildlife like deer elk bison and feral swine it causes fever and painful sores in the mouths and on the tongues feet and teats of infected animals but it is usually nonlethal in adult animals
the fmd virus does not infect humans despite the similarity in the name fmd is not the same as the human viral disease called hand foot and mouth disease that is common among young children
fmd significantly reduces livestocks productivity making it an important economic threat compounding the economic threat of fmd itself countries that do not have fmd go to extreme lengths to keep it out of their nations this includes cutting off the trade of beef dairy pork and other livestock products with those countries that have it
dr glennon mays a cvmbs clinical professor and one of the events facilitators said it is important to raise public awareness of the disease because if an fmd outbreak were to occur in the us there would be immediate trade repercussions
we expect we would be restricted from moving our livestock products into those channels of trade that we currently enjoy as we have in previous situations refused to accept product from countries where foot-and-mouth disease has been diagnosed he said
according to the us meat export federation and the us dairy export council the us exported $154 billion worth of beef pork and lamb and $66 billion worth of dairy products in 2020 alone this is only part of the value of exports from a single year that could be at risk if the us were to have an fmd outbreak trade limitations due to the presence of fmd in a country can last years if not decades
the us is currently listed by the world organization for animal health as fmd free without vaccination the highest level of safety relative to fmd many groups work to keep it that way
theres interdiction at the borders and there are early recognition programs explained dr jimmy tickel iiad veterinarian and one of iiads developers of the event
he gave the example of the cross-border threat screening and supply chain defense program cbts a dhs center of excellence led by texas a&m university cbts iiad and cbp collaborate to create animal and plant disease training courses they help personnel working on the borders recognize manage and prevent dangerous pathogens like fmd from entering the us
accredited veterinarians are another layer of protection against foreign animal diseases
they are experienced in disease response and would likely be the first ones to be used in a foot- and-mouth disease or other foreign animal disease response affecting livestock said dr brandon dominguez veterinarian with the texas a&m university division of research global health research complex and one of the events facilitators
accredited veterinarians are the ones out there who really know where the farms are they know who the farmers and ranchers are dominguez said they have a better understanding of the movement of animals within their practice areas
accredited veterinarians must undergo specific and ongoing training to maintain their accreditation but the effort to train people to recognize fmd starts far earlier
from the veterinary education standpoint weand not just texas a&mteach and reinforce to our students the awareness of diseases like foot-and-mouth what they need to do and who they need to contact if they ever encounter a situation in the field mays said
originally iiad and the cvmbs event was designed as a two-day in-person role-play exercise in college station key representatives from the top six states for the beef dairy and swine industries would be invited to play through their states vaccine rollout plans in hypothetical fmd outbreak scenarios
however the covid-19 pandemic forced the event to go virtual this was a unique challenge since events like this require participant trust past in-person events built trust through face-to-face conversation
sarah caffey program director at iiad oversaw the technical aspects of the workshop she partnered with innovation specialist daniel foster phd of global teach ag at penn state to create a discussion-friendly atmosphere using the whova platform the interactive features proved effective at fostering a trusting collaborative experience for participants
going remote also allowed the for greater accessibility invitations expanded to the top 10 largest beef dairy and swine production states since some states are in the top 10 for more than one industry 24 states were represented
this was to our knowledge the first virtual workshop of its size involving 24 of the largest agricultural states in the nation tickel said
the fact only three of the 24 states had an fmd vaccination plan also changed the event into a workshop instead of a tabletop exercise
a tabletop implies there are plans and all participants are in the same place in the planning process that was not the case here culp explained
despite the changes in plans it turned out better than expected
you had people from all across the spectrum of the planning process talking to each other learning from each other sharing with each other to me that was the best part of it culp said
ultimately the event was four days of directed discussion strategic planning and the cross-pollination of ideas between the states on what needs to be involved with a fmd vaccination plan
fmd vaccines have existed since the 1960s however there have only recently been enough vaccines in the us to make vaccination a practical strategy in the event of an outbreak
tickel and dominguez explained that the 2018 farm bill supplied more funding for fmd vaccines this included opening up a second vaccine bank for us use alone the previous vaccine bank is shared between the us canada and mexico
with more vaccines available and the ability to produce more much more rapidly vaccine is now a viable option on the table as a tool that could be used in a national outbreak situation tickel said
we would be able to protect more of our animals but with the number of livestock that we have now it still exceeds the amount of vaccine initially available so the approach has to be strategic dominguez said
according to the usda there are an estimated 936 million head of cattle and 775 million head of sheep and goats as of january 2021 and 748 million head of swine as of march 2021 thats almost 200 million livestock animals that could be susceptible in the case of an fmd outbreak
much like with the covid-19 vaccine where the limited supply went to at-risk people first the distribution of the fmd vaccine would have to be prioritized in the case of an outbreak tickel noted that the recent experience of the national covid-19 vaccine rollout was discussed widely at the vaccine exercise
this planning effort was fascinating because the resource became available in the amounts that made it valuable he said but also given the covid experience there was an awful lot of attention on what a vaccine can and cannot do and what can go right and what can go wrong with a national rollout
the vaccine exercise hosted by iiad and the cvmbs was part of preparing animal health first responders to incorporate fmd vaccination into their states animal health plans
all states have plans for foreign animal diseases including fmd said culp its the vaccine component to the planning that made this a brand-new discussion
over the course of the event participants identified several challenges that their states might face in the event of an fmd outbreak however the complexities of managing a national vaccine distribution program to fight an outbreak of the most contagious livestock virus on the planet and having states work together on behalf of their livestock industries was the overarching challenge of the workshop
tickel explained that in the covid-19 vaccine rollout public health officials at every level of the vaccine distribution helped get vaccines from the national stockpile into individual arms
for animals there are no government officials to oversight such programs on the local level he said that occurs through accredited veterinarians who are private practitioners a state veterinarian would actually have to contract private practitioners and work them in a public capacity to oversight the fmd vaccine program
most representatives at the vaccine exercise concluded that their states do not have the trained personnel necessary for a vaccination plan mays summarized the issue as there being lots of hats that need to be worn and not enough heads to wear them
other challenges identified at the exercise included cold chain security issuesmaking sure states can keep vaccines cold at every step in the processand vaccination record keeping
the complexity involved is why we need to have workshops where we can discuss the challenges at hand and project out additional challenges and things that could happen tickel said
the vaccine planning exercise also created an opportunity for the top agricultural states in the nation to collaborate on their fmd vaccine plan development
dominguez called the collaboration among the states one of the best outcomes of the event
nobody has all the answers some states have worked through some parts of it and others have figured out other parts he said together they might be able to figure out some of the other problems that they see coming
culp also called the collaboration among the states one of the most exciting outcomes of the exercise she noted that it also gave participants tangible ideas of what they can do in their states planning process
it allowed the states to identify some key gaps and i think that they probably walked away knowing what they could prioritize and get done now she said
tickel described the event as developing a community of subject matter experts who can represent their states going forward in the planning process
our event brought together state players so that they could collaborate on those efforts and build all plans with one perspective and raise all boats with one tide
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr yava jones-hall an associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) is leading in the field of veterinary medicine as the only veterinarian selected for crosstalks list of 100 inspiring black scientists in america
created to encourage and emphasize the importance of diversity in science the list offers an example of the impact black scientists can have on america according to cell press the scientific journal publisher that generated the list
jones-hall is joined on the list by scientists from african afro-caribbean afro-latinx and african-american backgrounds ranging from assistant professors to department heads at universities across the country
it was surprising and amazing to be selected especially being a veterinarian jones-hall said it was nice to see veterinary medicine represented
jones-hall noted that one similarity between most of those on the list is that they all seem to be navigating the tenure track system at predominantly white institutions
coming from a career at the purdue university college of veterinary medicine to texas a&m both historically white universities jones-hall recognizes the need for greater diversity on college campuses not only in terms of ethnicity but socioeconomic background as well
the reality is the world is not homogenous we need our students to be exposed to different types of people in order for them to have more cultural sensitivity and understanding jones-hall said also having diversity within any program promotes diversity of ideas
while many veterinarians develop their passion for medicine early on especially with the popularity of veterinary-themed tv shows jones-hall did not have that opportunity growing up in the small town of childersburg alabama
growing up my mother was a single parent and i didnt really have access to programs that focused on veterinary medicine i didnt even know any veterinarians personally jones-hall said
the reality is the world is not homogenous we need our students to be exposed to different types of people in order for them to have more cultural sensitivity and understanding
when i applied to veterinary school (at the tuskegee university college of veterinary medicine) the requirement at the time was to have one letter of recommendation from a veterinarian she said i had only had the opportunity to shadow a veterinarian once because he lived and worked about an hour and a half from me but he had gone to tuskegee and thankfully he recognized my potential and was willing to help me
jones-hall was accepted to tuskegee and went on to earn her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) but she recognizes that her situation could have turned out differently not because she was less capable but simply because she had fewer opportunities
at purdue i was a member of the admissions committee and saw powerful recommendation letters from veterinarians in students application packets and i would think ‘i may not have gotten into veterinary school if my background of experiences were compared to the background of many of the students that are applying now its not a function of intelligence; its the exposure she said
this realization led jones-hall to begin volunteering for community outreach efforts taking any opportunity she could to promote stem careers and specifically veterinary medicine to disadvantaged youth
during veterinary school jones-hall was introduced to the field of pathologythe study of the causes and effects of diseaseand once she saw how seamlessly pathology combines with collaborative research she was hooked
as a veterinary pathologist im trained to understand disease in any organ in a multitude of species jones-hall said whatever field of research an investigators in i help them figure out how pathology is manifesting and how best to frame the research from the perspective of pathology
considering herself a veterinary detective jones-hall helps researchers at the cvmbs and other institutions look at clues in cells and body tissues to find the best way for the research to progress working on a variety of research topics and never knowing what will come through the door next are what make the field so appealing to her
jones-halls main project as the director of the cvmbs core histology laboratory has been the creation of a digital pathology program digital pathology increases the efficiency and accuracy of analyzing slides of cells to count those of the same kind which is a typical job for a pathologist
traditionally pathologists would look at the slide and say theres a little bit a medium amount or a lot of any particular data marker; its subjective if you digitize slides and use a computer for analytics the results are more reliably repeatable and less subject to interpretation she said whereas it would take me weeks to look at hundreds and hundreds of slides i can scan those same slides and design a program to identify all the t cells in the tissue for example i can have results in hours to days which can then be combined with other endpoints to give a more holistic and objective picture
outside of the lab jones-hall continues her commitment to diversity and inclusion by participating in working groups to increase outreach to the local community she also represents faculty from the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) in the colleges new committee for inclusion diversity equity & accountability (c-idea) which works to foster a welcoming and respectful environment for all faculty staff and students while supporting strategic initiatives being led from the cvmbs office for diversity & inclusion
im very excited about the new c-idea initiative jones-hall said this committee will foster diversity and inclusivity at all levels in particular having the buy in and representation of staff and faculty is important we cant just place students into spaces that may be hostile without first having strategies best practices and support mechanisms in place within the faculty staff and administration
beyond the college jones-hall is a member of texas a&ms stride (strategies and tactics for recruiting to improve diversity and excellence) committee leading workshops for faculty members involved in faculty recruitment most recently she was selected to join texas a&ms search committee for the next president of the university
i was honestly shocked when i was asked to serve on the presidential search committee jones-hall said this will be an amazing opportunity to serve and learn the process of hiring an upper-level administrator
diversity and inclusivity are important in general and its important to me so im willing to take on the extra stress and work to make things better hopefully she said if you can change one or two people then who knows what kind of long-lasting impact that can have or who that change can spread to that person may have encounters with a lot of students or faculty members and just that one person being different could change the climate of a whole department or community
jones-hall hopes her crosstalk recognition might inspire others to think about those who may not have had the same advantages
i know the harsh reality that a lot of people face just trying to survive she said some students might be focused on how to buy this book or what conference to go to but other students are focused on how to eat today while still attending classes i hope that i can inspire people to try to have success in their lives while not forgetting that other people may need you need help along their way or most importantly just need a fair and equitable opportunity
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
canyon texas dignitaries texas a&m and west texas a&m university administrators and students alike today celebrated the grand opening of two buildings that greatly enhance veterinary medical education and research missions in the texas panhandle
the charles w doc graham 53 dvm the texas a&m university system center officially opened on the west texas a&m university campus with celebratory comments from chancellor john sharp wt president dr walter v wendler texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences (cvmbs) dean dr john august texas a&m vice chancellor and dean for agriculture and life sciences dr patrick stover texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory director dr bruce akey elected officials and more
the centerlocated in the northeast corner of wts canyon campusis home to both the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) building and the charles w graham dvm texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) building
both facilities opened in september signaling the culmination of the texas a&m university systems investment in large animal health in the texas panhandle; grand opening celebrations were delayed due to the pandemic the project is supported by $90 million in capital improvements and $5 million in faculty hires for a total of $95 million in investment in the region ground was broken on both buildings in december 2018
the vero building is a $22-million 34 000-square-foot facility that now serves as a regional veterinary teaching center that creates a gateway to the cvmbs for students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine from the texas panhandle and west texas while also facilitating collaborative multidisciplinary research among scientists from across the region
not only are wt pre-veterinary students taught in the facility but it will also serve as the home for the cvmbs 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program which will enroll its first cohort of 18 first-year dvm students in the fall of 2021
our colleges commitment to educational opportunity for the young people of our state extends from the panhandle to the rio grande valley said dr john august cvmbs dean in prepared comments on may 12 the first three students to receive their degrees from our undergraduate biomedical sciences program at the higher education center in mcallen walked the stage in reed arena in college station and we look forward to celebrating the graduation of our first cohort of 2+2 dvm program students from vero in 2025
with this partnership at wt the cvmbs continues to meet both the needs of the state and our students in the most innovative high-quality effective and cost-efficient manner possible sharp said in prepared comments we have created a two-way superhighway of veterinary education and research activity from canyon to college station and it runs right through the vero and tvmdl facilities within the dr charles graham center on the wt campus
vero is also a critical component of wts drive to become a regional research university wt 125: from the panhandle to the world
i thank dr eleanor green the former dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences as a champion of this visionary project the texas a&m university system board of regents for their wisdom in adopting it and chancellor john sharp for his diligent and meticulous implementation of it wendler said in prepared comments this farsighted partnership will greatly impact the enrollment of promising future veterinarians from the panhandle area who want to return to the texas panhandle to live work and serve
the tvmdl facility is a $176-million 22 000-square-foot building that features the latest technology for diagnostic services in bacteriology pathology serology and virology as well as spaces for receiving sample processing necropsy services and administrative support
the opening of the building in september signaled a relocation to canyon from its previous location in amarillo which was opened in 1975 to specifically serve the panhandles cattle feedlot industry as an extension of the agencys college station-based laboratory
tvmdl one of the texas a&m university systems eight state agencies and a member of texas a&m agrilife comprises four laboratories across the state annually the agency performs over 1 million diagnostic tests for a variety of animal species the canyon laboratory has continued the agencys original commitment to the regions cattle industry and performs an estimated 160 000 tests for cattle each year
tvmdl and vero comprise both buildings in the center named after graham a texas a&m distinguished alumnus and one of texas most renowned equine veterinarians
the doc graham center grand opening celebration was scheduled to be attended by us rep ronny jackson (r-amarillo); texas reps john cyrier glenn rogers john smithee and lynn stucky; members of the tamus board of regents randy brooks bill mahomes and michale j plank; faculty; staff; students and more
the financial and human capital investments reflected in this partnership will undoubtedly have an indelible impact on the panhandle region the lives of the generations of students who will receive their veterinary education at vero and the thousands of animal owners and veterinarians who will benefit from cutting-edge diagnostic testing at tvmdl dr todd rasberry vice president for philanthropy and external relations and executive director of the wtamu foundation said in prepared comments
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler west texas a&m university 806-651-2124 cchandler@wtamuedu
when an area is struck by disease chaos can often consume the community as they try to organize in the midst of fear and confusion dr martial ndeffo an assistant professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) helps local officials make sense of these uncertain times by diving into the data that will help those officials identify the best responses to control or prevent disease outbreaks
ndeffos research uses transdisciplinary modelling approaches to identify and address challenges for a range of infectious diseases infectious disease modelling uses the mathematical analysis of data to develop quantitative representations of disease systems and their interacting variables called a model by developing data-driven models ndeffo helps characterize emerging diseases in uncertain situations identify the best strategies for disease control and prevention and analyze public health responses from a health and economic perspective to inform public policy
this life-saving research has taken him around the world from ebola outbreaks in west and central africa to studying dengue chikungunya and zika outbreaks in the americas to domestic work addressing the hiv/aids epidemic and hpv in the united states
i have a sense of adapting to new situations ndeffo said i think that also comes with training as a mathematician always having a problem-solving type of mentality which you apply to your daily living
ndeffo knew he wanted to be a mathematician from an early age–his father and elder brother had degrees in mathematics and the interest was engrained in his family although mathematics was always a part of his life ndeffo initially was not drawn to the path of epidemiology
my motivation initially was really to focus more on financial mathematics go into the stock market and get a financial job in london he said but i had more interest in focusing on things that were close to home meaning how could i really use my skills to address problems that affect my home country and continent thats why i started to look more into mathematical biology especially mathematical epidemiology looking into infectious diseases
i think a lot of people do math because of the challenge for me it was partially about liking the challenge and being willing to go at it but its really the contribution the impact you might have on peoples lives if youre able to do decent work if youre able to communicate it and get engaged with clinicians and public health practitioners
his education began in his home country of cameroon a largely francophile country but school took him to south africa an english-speaking nation for his masters degree in mathematics ndeffo says that his grasp on english at the time was difficult but that math was a universal language for him he was able to learn both languagesenglish and mathsimultaneously in south africa
secure in both the language and his skill ndeffo earned a spot at the university of cambridge for his second masters degree in applied mathematics he remained at cambridge as the gates scholar a prestigious scholarship funded by the bill and melinda gates foundation as he completed his phd in mathematical biology
heading stateside ndeffo completed his postdoctoral work at yale university fully diving into the world of infectious disease modelling and becoming engrossed with both the work and the impact it can have
my motivation was really helping to address some of these problems practically he said as long as i see that there is a need as long as i see that this might be helpful one way or another i will try to make time to make my contribution as small as that might be to a specific situation
modelling infectious diseases is a challenging endeavor–not only does it require the researcher to enter a chaotic and sometimes dangerous environment but because emerging diseases are not yet entirely understood it also requires the modeler to predict the future when the present isnt entirely known
ndeffo explains this challenge as as uncertain as your inputs are so your output will be
the nature of this research requires investigators to be flexible and adapt to new situations both in the collection of their data and in their physical environment ndeffo explains that when outbreaks happen in countries with fewer resources the human element of this research can take on an important role
when the 2014 ebola outbreak started in west africa especially in liberia i was part of a team at yale university that started to think about how we could contribute to that crisis he said it was very much a dire situation; it was almost the worst disease in the world happening in the poorest countries in the world
a member of ndeffos team had the idea of providing their liberian field collaborators with laptops and mobile phones to be used for contact tracing efforts after learning through the liberian ministry of health that many members of their ebola response teams had been collecting data using pen and paper and travelling long distances to deliver these data by hand to public health authorities for analysis
you have maybe a weeklong lag between when the data was collected and when public health authorities are able to look at them and make a decision by the time the cases were identified the situation was completely changed he said one thing that made a big difference was a very simple mobile phone application where you can observe something on the ground and just enter those observations people in monrovia the capital could access the data in real time they could make a decision and you could act in real time in the field
ndeffo thinks this example illustrates the comprehensive view one must take in evaluating pandemic responses providing these devices was not directly connected to the teams task of modelling but this simple contribution had a considerable impact and saved lives
ndeffo says this is why it is important to bring local people into the conversation take their concerns into account and provide ownership of a situation when designing public health interventions
you really have the possibility of making an impact and at the end of the day that impact always saves lives ndeffo said its really that end product of helping to reduce mortality and disease burden that really drives me in doing what i do
maximizing his positive impact on the world is central to ndeffos career
recently he has focused a lot of his energy on working on neglected tropical diseases he says that because they are neglected there is little existing research and he sees a window to make significant contributions where others may not think to look
definitely there is an opportunity there an opening to contribute and for your result to be directly considered by public health decisionmakers he said you can really bring a tangible impact to these situations so thats been the reason why ive put a bit more time into neglected tropical diseases
recently ndeffo has diverted his research efforts into studying the development of the global covid-19 pandemic his work modelling covid-19 is reminiscent of previous research he has done on emerging diseases and his adaptive nature is a strength in navigating the challenges of studying a disease that is not yet fully characterized
like any emerging disease it is difficult to study because there are a lot of unknown factors he said having the experience of working on ebola in 2014 im a bit familiar with these types of developing situations but theres always a problem in that you will have a lot of things that you dont know about the disease itself
although the current situation presents many challenges he is optimistic that this crisis will push our society to be more resilient in the face of infectious diseases; public interest in models of covid-19 has driven more informed decisions on how we react to this pandemic

i think that whether we want to or not we have to learn something a lot of things will have to change he said for society really to come into that place we need a more multi-disciplinary vision or analysis of what has happened and how to prepare for what might happen it is very important for us not to do it in isolation but to really bring many disciplines together because of the multifaceted approach of these situations
although he is hopeful for the future ndeffo cautions that the effects of covid-19 might be more far-reaching than we initially observe the strain this virus has placed on our healthcare system can lead to overwhelmed health facilities delayed care decreased access reduction in the utilization of essential services and other effects for individuals who are suffering from non-covid health conditions
when you think about these emerging diseases we have to think about what i call the indirect impact it becomes more and more clear that the indirect impact of covid is very substantial and nobody knowsit might even be worse than the direct impact of covid he said this brings us to that place where we design our intervention measures and our preparedness strategy; we really have to think beyond the direct impact of the disease it has to be taken into account how we keep the right balance between addressing public health holistically rather than as a single problem that we are trying to solve
ndeffo sees a need to continue studying covid-19 as the pandemic develops and is eager to lend a hand where he can he is also continuing his research with neglected tropical diseases with the hope that his modelling will inform a strategy for elimination
disease outbreaks are scary and oftentimes confusing situations as the global population has collectively experienced over the past year
luckily epidemiological modelers like ndeffo are able to assess data describing the present and provide insight into how we should best respond to uncertain situations to create a brighter future for us all
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
aggie veterinarian dr gilberto treviño 52 was a man who never stopped trying to improve the world around him in all facets of his life described in his obituary as a teacher student fisherman fisher of men hunter rancher farmer doctor writer/author scientist coach singer comedian civic leader world traveler soldier war hero builder artisan and best friend
treviño first attended texas a&m university with the plan of majoring in chemical engineering these plans were cut short when as a 19-year-old junior he was drafted for world war ii
eight months after receiving his notice treviño joined the 9th marines 3rd marine division in combat serving as a private first class in the pacific theater
his unit earned a presidential citation for extraordinary heroism for its service during the battle of iwo jima but the battle took a toll on treviño he was wounded on iwo jima when a mortar exploded and damaged his hearing but he declined to report the injury so he could stay and support his unit
by the end of his life treviño was completely deaf without hearing aids as a result of this injury
in 1946 treviño was discharged at the rank of private first class and soon returned to texas a&m changing his major to study veterinary medicine
in may of 1952 while waiting in line at his graduation to receive his doctor of veterinary medicine after six years of study a messenger delivered another draft notice with orders to report to corpus christi naval base and support the united states efforts in the korean war
although treviño had previously served during wwii his newly received dvm led to new responsibilities for his service in the korean war he served as a food inspector until his discharge in 1954 when he returned to el paso to pursue his passion of veterinary medicine
born on jan 11 1925 in laredo treviño grew up on the texas-mexico border in a spanish-speaking community and faced his fair share of discrimination in a 2007 interview with dr maggie rivas-rodriguez he said that the reduced racial tension he found in the army made it a more welcoming place
racial bigotry is slowly being erased from this country [but] not entirely there is still too much of it treviño said i dont use my ethnicity as a club i use it as a means for showing other people that any hispanic can accomplish the same things as any anglomaybe a little bit better
his drive to succeed led him to return to texas a&m as an instructor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and earn his master of science degree in veterinary medicine and surgery majoring in dermatology
he was a superb teacher and surgeon just outstanding said dr garry adams a senior professor in the cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) and a longtime colleague of treviños
he did great work and was recognized for what he had done because of the quality of his work not because he of the color of his skin or because he came from a certain area adams said there was and im sure there still is bigotry but in spite of that he was successful
despite his success as a professor treviño volunteered for the army in 1959 serving again during the vietnam war
after he left active duty he kept busy by contributing his spirit of selfless service to the veterinary field
treviño was the first army veterinarian selected to be trained as a pathologist in 1963 he was sent to michigan state university where he earned a phd in pathology and later became a diplomate of the american college of veterinary pathologists
he was also the first military liaison officer to emergency programs representing the department of defense during his final assignment he established the us army forces command (forscom) animal disease eradication plan
he retired from active duty as a colonel in 1976 after 27 years of service
he had an ability to speak with knowledge with information and to provide a compelling debate for moving a project an idea or a program forward that was very inspirational to me the ability to lead even when its a difficult project to be prepared and ready and to be compelling in providing information for making a decision
after his retirement treviño returned to texas a&m this time as director of the institute of tropical veterinary medicine and a graduate pathology professor at the cvmbs
what i saw in him was this organization of skill and the ability to speak and encourage engagement across the border internationally and locally because he was innately very bright adams said he really wanted to move things forward in an organized way
in this position treviño inspired future veterinarians and advocated for animal health through a one health approach to veterinary medicine
he had an ability to speak with knowledge with information and to provide a compelling debate for moving a project an idea or a program forward adams said that was very inspirational to me the ability to lead even when its a difficult project to be prepared and ready and to be compelling in providing information for making a decision
in 1981 treviño retired from the cvmbs and became a professor emeritus he returned to his hometown of laredo where he served as a relief veterinarian and raised cattle during this time treviño also began a custom mesquite furniture business
that deep character carried him through the rest of his life adams said he was crystallized in that crucible of survival and decided if he was ever to survive this situation he was going to do something and he did he fell into his unique pathway to serve in his capacity to lead in his capacity to be an example and a model in veterinary medicine
treviño passed away in march 2011 at the age of 86 he was survived by his wife christine a daughter and a son
treviños legacy serves as a reminder of the resilience of the aggie spirit and the drive to improve the world around us protect what we believe in and dedicate our lives to a greater cause
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while dogs are collectively known as mans best friend this phrase rings especially true for dalton hanner and his dog lucky
the two have been inseparable since they found each other eight years ago and hanner credits lucky as the source of support that got him through many difficult times in his life
in the fall of 2020 it was hanners turn to provide that support after lucky ended up in the texas a&m small animal hospitals (sah) critical care service for more than two weeks after an accident nearly claimed his life
hanner first met lucky while volunteering with a houston adoption organization the summer before his freshman year of college he felt a connection but ultimately decided to leave for college without bringing a pet
once he began his first semester at texas a&m however hanner was hit with a wave of depression that stemmed from not knowing anyone in a new city he thought back to the dog he had met the previous summer and decided in october that if lucky was still available he would adopt him
as soon as i saw that lucky was still there i had to bring him home he said he was very young at that time super skittish and afraid of men so i think that was what led a lot of people to look past him and not want to adopt him
hes a border collie and australian cattle dog mix and those are two breeds i had growing up i always wanted to know what it would be like if i happened to find a dog that was both of those breeds he said chance or coincidence it was just a perfect match
with love and patience hanner and lucky worked through luckys shyness toward men and developed a strong bond
hes the most trainable dog ive ever had in my entire life hanner said his combination of breeds i think makes him super smart and intuitive as to how people around him are feeling with what i was going through at the time it was perfect
for the entire time i lived in college station he was my rock he said hes been with me all eight years and hes the only one whos been there the whole time
after hanner moved back to houston he and lucky frequently made trips to the college station area to visit friends and stay at a family friends ranch in iola
for lucky being a border collie and australian cattle dog mix the land in iola is his stomping grounds; thats where he loves to be hanner said he follows us everywhere and hes always part of whatever were doing whether its work or play
during a trip this past september hanner and his friend were doing some work on the ranch when a neighbor called to ask if they could jump start his truck they got in his friends ford f250 and left for what they thought would just be a short break from work
while lucky is trained to stay off of major roads hanner believes he had difficulty distinguishing the gravel county road from the smaller dirt roads that run through the property which he is allowed to cross
he just got confused and ended up in front of the vehicle he said we felt a bump and immediately knew exactly what had happened
hanner and his friend leapt out of the truck and found lucky walking around but he was obviously in a lot of pain they tried to help him but lucky reacted aggressively because he was in shock
he bit me and latched on hard and instinct for me was to try to pull my hand back which ended up causing him to sink in deeper before he finally let go hanner said then i was panicking and freaking out and as i was checking on myself the other guy also came to try to help lucky and lucky bit him on his hand too
once lucky calmed and it was safe to approach him they immediately knew they all needed medical attention quickly
lucky was trying to climb into the truck because the drivers door was open and he was struggling i got him onto the floorboard and he was about to crawl over the console then i saw his internal organs coming out of his body hanner said im not very squeamish typically but this is my baby; i was definitely in a heightened state of panic
as they sped toward texas a&m it seemed that fate was on their side; they hit every green light along university drive which made the typically 40-minute drive only 23 minutes
after sah staff took lucky inside to begin urgent care hanner and his friend drove to an emergency room to get their own injuries treated
for hanner all that was left to do was wait but for the veterinarians and support staff at the sah the work to save luckys life was only getting started
because lucky was at the sah for about two and a half weeks his care was overseen by three different veterinarians in the emergency & critical care (ecc) servicedrs ann-mari osgood dalton hindmarsh and lance wheeler
initially we told the owner that things looked very bad; there was definitely a guarded-to-grave prognosis that lucky would ever leave the hospital said wheeler a first-year ecc veterinary resident its our job to quickly assess patient status so that we may present as much information as possible to the owner allowing them to make decisions based on facts lucky was in a very bad way and we painted this honest gruesome picture so that the owner understood what he was getting himself into but that definitely wasnt slowing him down
lucky was taken immediately into surgery to repair his abdominal contents and torn tendons which required extra care since his intestines were exposed to the external environment complicating the situation further with widespread bacterial infection
he needed more transfusions of everything from blood to plasma to canine albumin (a protein made by the liver) than ive ever seen a dog get wheeler said he had lost so much blood he got pretty much everything we had
once the initial surgery was done the veterinarians began to address luckys other injuries
we anticipated that there was going to be some wound management but nothing to the extent he had wheeler said when his skin wounds started to reveal their true extent it became evident that none of his skin was really attached to him; it was just kind of there it was almost like a burn patient because they dont have any skin to protect them from the environment
at that point luckys ecc team reached out to the sahs soft tissue surgery service to begin daily assessments of his skin they performed numerous procedures to remove portions of non-viable skin and used advanced tissue-healing techniques to nurture and heal the remaining viable portions of skin
there were many unknowns about how lucky would respond to treatment wheeler said we still didnt know if he was going to walk we didnt know if hed use the bathroom our focus was keeping him alive and comfortable and we would turn our attention to other goals when medically appropriate
(but) everything just went in our favor; when we would challenge him by weaning him off medications or removing a certain tube we had positive outcomes he said we were continually taking steps forward and very few steps back
as lucky continued to improve his care team became more and more optimistic that lucky would not only get to go home but would also see a nearly 100% recovery
it was exciting to see him improve so much and its pretty incredible how much went into getting him better wheeler said everybody was key and everybody involved had a big part to play
i was there when he walked out the front door of the hospital and it was something that i cant even explain he said the joy that erupted from him when seeing his family waiting outside was something i had never witnessed that moment in time was filled with so much joy and positive energy that it shook me to my core
once lucky returned home his recovery continued smoothly and with very few lasting effects of the trauma
i couldnt be more thankful because whatever issues we still have to deal with are worth it for me to have my best friend in the entire world hanner said
hanner is also thankful for the generosity of friends and strangers who donated money to help cover luckys medical bills both through a gofundme page set up by his sister and the sahs capper & chris save the animals fund which provides financial assistance to pet owners who could not otherwise afford a lifesaving procedure for their animal
even after lucky left the sah he continued to have a big impact on his care team
were all eternally grateful for everything the owner did and everything that lucky taught us wheeler said luckys a perfect example of when something looks impossible to achieve its not necessarily impossible as long as you have the support staff the owner whos willing to keep going and the patient that is willing to keep fighting
he touched so many doctors nurses and students during his fight for life he said lucky pushed us to do things we felt were nearly impossible providing for us amazing learning opportunities and teaching us the importance of not giving up just because things feel impossible
to help other animals receive lifesaving treatments please contact larry walker senior director of development for the cvmbs at lwalker@txamfoundationcom or 9798459043
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
eli hernandez a fourth-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) calls himself a vet-squared the title is fitting as he identifies as both a veteran and a soon-to-be veterinarian
after high school i did six years on active duty the lumberton native said i was in japan for my first three years or so and then i moved to nevada for my second duty station i was there for a little over two years before transitioning to the navy reserve
following his active duty commitment hernandez returned to his home state of texas with a strong interest in animal care
i really just wanted to be a rancher honestly hernandez said the more research i did i realized that was unfeasible because the amount of money it would take i settled on the second best thing which was veterinary medicine being a veterinarian was kind of the back-up plan
he started working on his veterinary pre-requisites at blinn before transferring to texas a&m graduating with the fightin texas aggie class of 2017 hernandez was set to continue his education at the cvmbs when his plans were interrupted by a call to duty
it just so happened that i got picked up for a deployment right as i was finishing my undergrad hernandez said i had been accepted to veterinary school with the class of 2021 but had to defer so i could go to kuwait there was no getting out of it
while he knew he would be returning to veterinary school eventually hernandez describes his second deployment as a break from the academic mindset
i wasnt overly focused on veterinary school i knew that i was coming back to do that but i didnt really know anything about how to prepare hernandez said dr (glennon) mays (cvmbs director of recruiting and student services) let me borrow an anatomy book which i brought with me over there but i dont remember ever looking at it
though his deployment provided a break from the world of veterinary medicine hernandez continued to exercise his skills in analytic thinking
i was doing civilian casualties analysis hernandez said they had me looking into allegations that people were submitting in syria and iraq the united states takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously so we devoted a lot of human resources to investigating the allegations we were receiving and i was honored to be a part of that team
in that job i was taking information critically analyzing it and piecing together a whole bunch of stuff to come up with a story that makes sense then i would try to fill in any missing parts to determine if an allegation may have had credibility or not hernandez said i feel like the critical thinking aspect has been really beneficial especially in veterinary school i hope that it will make me into a better veterinarian someday
hernandez returned to texas in may 2018 and was preparing to enter the cvmbs in the class of 2022 when in july he discovered that he had been promoted to e-7 or chief petty officer while he was proud to have received an advancement achieved by few the promotion also offered yet another conflict for veterinary school
i had to go through a two-month initiation process for e-7 and that was the hardest part about first year for sure hernandez said there was a month of overlap where i was expected to be doing stuff every single day every single night every weekend for the navy and also expected to take care of my school responsibilities that was really really tough
beginning his first semester of veterinary school while completing the e-7 initiation process tested hernandezs drive and discipline
it was almost impossible for me to study i specifically remember one night i was sitting in one of the study rooms with a group of people trying to study for anatomy but i couldnt because my phone just kept going off the whole time; it was people that i was going through the initiation with hernandez said
on top of all of that hernandez who had completed farrier school in 2016 using his gi bill also owns a farrier business and continues to service clients during his second year of veterinary school he also taught himself the traditional western art of rawhide braiding and started a business as well managing so many responsibilities simultaneously forced hernandez to focus on the task at hand and exhibit persistence
its one of those things where its one foot in front of the next hernandez said you cant look too far out otherwise youll get overwhelmed you have to take it day by day and just say ‘ok make it past this thing and then tomorrow do the same thing over again
and thats exactly what he did despite his success hernandez recalls the pressure he felt from handling so many obligations at once
i think i struggled with stress last semester i struggled with stress really bad to the point where i developed medical issues and i had to take time off to go to medical appointments hernandez said thats not really an uncommon thing but it was pretty uncommon for me
though his first year at the cvmbs tested hernandezs resolve he said his classmates have helped his transition from active duty to civilian life
i know one of the biggest struggles for veterans is the transition going from having that military camaraderie to not having it so its kind of nice having that here (among his veterinary peers) because i feel like its made the transition pretty easy hernandez said
this has become my close-knit group of friends whether its just because we spend so much time together or because we actually enjoy each others company he said i think its a little bit of both
when he completes his doctor of veterinary medicine degree hernandez plans to expand the care he provides horses beyond his work as a farrier
ever since i went to farrier school i have absolutely fallen in love with the equine foot i hope that the avma (american veterinary medical association) approves equine podiatry as a new board specialty hernandez said i would absolutely love to be one of the first board certified equine podiatrists in the nation so thats my goal
combining his tested experience as a farrier with the new skills and knowledge he has learned in veterinary school hernandez hopes to discover new insights into the equine foot
i would love to have my own clinic thats set up to do inpatient care for horses that have really really bad hoof issues and i would use that opportunity to do more scientific studies on the foot hernandez said i want to try to answer questions i have about the best ways to treat certain disease processes in the foot
hernandezs drive to achieve his goal recently earned him recognition as a 2018 tillman scholar a prestigious award for military veterans and spouses the tillman foundation provides recipients with scholarship funds and professional development opportunities
theres still a very large part of me that has imposter syndrome its like how in the world did they select me as a tillman scholar because it is such a competitive scholarship and the people who are within that organization are absolutely incredible hernandez said maybe there is something that i do have to contribute on a larger scale and they just see it in me earlier than i see it in myself
mays on the other hand has no doubts about hernandez whom mays believes is capable of completing whatever task he sets his mind to
eli is a life-experienced mature person mays said considering his youth military service and accomplishments and scholastic performance eli must be not only committed but time-management conscious coordination of military career academic rigor and personal life suggests a depth of grit often present in people defined as successful by societal standards
while his nontraditional path to veterinary medicine has taken him around the world hernandez is glad to have landed back home in texas
a&m has been really great about understanding my military duties and working with me around those like with my deferment i think anybody who applies for a deferment gets kind of anxious hernandez said but i submitted my request for a deferment and had no issues they said ‘ok sounds good see you next year
i do appreciate how good a&m has been to people who are still in the military or have reserve duties or whatever he said its really nice
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr beth boudreau an assistant professor of neurology welcomes patches family to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) small animal hospital (sah)
patches a sweet and playful dog is visiting the sah to be treated for a glioma a form of cancer that grows in the brain and spinal cord she is prepped put under anesthesia and sent for an mri brain scan
the veterinary team patiently waits for the images to load and for measurements to be taken but the wait was worth itpatches brain tumor appears smaller!
not only is this good news for patches and her family but its also good news on a larger scale for boudreau and her research team who have been working for years to understand the tricky tumors
boudreau and her team of cvmbs researchers are collaborating with the jackson laboratory for genomic medicine and the university of texas md anderson cancer center to test a new immunotherapy drug through a clinical trial
this is important work because gliomas also occur in people and are the second-most common type of brain cancer in dogs
unfortunately this type of cancer tends to have a poor prognosisgliomas are difficult to surgically remove and traditional therapy comes with multiple side effects and a big bill even after a high-risk surgery to remove the tumor plus weeks of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy dogs may only survive a few more months
but boudreau and her colleagues want to do better
in addition to personal experiences with intracranial cancer the research team is especially committed to finding a treatment for gliomas because of their distinctly poor prognoses
there are a lot of things about itbesides the short survival time and the fact that it tends to affect many younger individualsthat make it especially difficult boudreau said anyone whos had a family member or a pet with a brain tumor has dealt with these same things to some degreethe fear the uncertainty the really wanting to try to do anything to get more good time
it might be that a quarter of their survival time is taken up with dealing with this very difficult treatment boudreau said we dont just want to extend the number of days; we want to extend the number of days that they get to spend together having fun
this project started about five years ago when dr jon levine a neurology professor and head of the cvmbs small animal clinical sciences department made contact with md anderson
they were originally curious about this idea that dogs happen to share that tumor type with humans boudreau said we still dont know why these tumors arise
in people researchers analyze environmental exposures diet factors and immune stimulations that might predispose or protect certain people with respect to this type of tumor
dogs share our lives so intimately that if these factors are important for people its not so surprising that our pets that share our lives would also get them boudreau said
to learn how these tumors work and how they relate to similar human tumors researchers analyzed a massive canine genomic dataset collected from multiple glioma samples they found that the tumors are indeed molecularly similar suggesting that the two diseases have a similar mutational cancer-causing process
this means that treatments could be similar as well
now the team has developed a brand-new immunotherapy drug and are conducting clinical trials with dogs at the sah
we dont just want to extend the number of days; we want to extend the number of days that they get to spend together having fun
when a dog is diagnosed with a glioma boudreau will meet with pet owners to discuss treatment options and her clinical trial if the family agrees to try the experimental drug the procedure is scheduled
the dog gets mri images taken that will guide the surgeons in administering the therapy before the patient is taken to an operating room where the brainsight system is set up to point a needle directly at the glial tumor a small hole is drilled into the skull so the needle can pass and then the experimental drug is injected directly into the tumor
if recovery goes well the dog can go home the next day in about a month the dog comes for a repeat mri to assess if the tumor has decreased in size
with this therapy were trying to make tumors that do not on their own generate a lot of immune response and turn them into tumors that do by injecting them with this immunotherapy agent boudreau said we also have the option to repeat the injection because as you know with getting a vaccine when youre trying to stimulate the immune system sometimes you get a better response if you do it more than once
these clinical trials are only the beginning
its really similar to whats going on with the (covid-19) vaccine development everyone is talking a lot about boudreau said we need to establish that the drug is safe and we need to establish that it is efficacious
after boudreaus data are published her collaborators at md anderson can apply to test the therapy in a human clinical trial to attempt to establish the same results
eventually hopefully we will be able to make it an approved treatment for people as well boudreau said but its a long road
while the teams main focus is the clinical trial boudreau said the genetic analysis is an important piece of the project
some breeds of dogs get gliomas a lot more than others boxers and boston terriers are two big ones and then pit bulls she said what were trying to look at now is differences in the tumors from those breeds of dog compared to the tumors from breeds of dog that just tend to get them sporadically
so far six patients have had the experimental injection and two are still enrolled the team hopes to have answers by the time they reach 21 trials
to get to this point the jackson laboratory helped analyze the genes and cell regulation of the tumors and using this information scientists at md anderson like biochemist dr mike curran created the test drug the cvmbs is now doing clinical trials on the drug if this works researchers like md andersons dr amy heimberger can help make the drug ready for people
the benefit of collaboration is huge because none of us could do this alone boudreau said my goal and dr heimbergers goals are actually probably different i want a way to treat this tumor in dogs and of course im sure shed be happy about that because she loves dogs but her patients are people so its great that we can work together
and then our genomic study has given us more confidence that these tumors are really very similar and will respond similarly she said but in the end what im hoping for is that we have something better to offer the owners because right now were so limited
while so far the outcomes have been promising science takes time
i didnt know how long these things could take and how many things can get in your way; there are so many variables she said its really a good thing that we have a lot of people working on this from different angles because otherwise we would never be able to explore enough possibilities fast enough
we could not do this without our patientsour trial enrolleesand their families boudreau said im always surprised when they express gratitude to us because i feel so grateful for them when they say that in the midst of all of these other things that theyre dealing with on a personal level that they want to help other dogs too and they want to help fight this disease i feel like im meeting my people
because they still need at least 14 dogs to complete their trial boudreau said recruitment is key in this project
if you have a dog or know someone who has a dog especially if its a boston terrier or a boxer who has signs of something going on in his or her brain wed like you to come see us she said even if its not a glioma there might be something we can help with
if it does happen to be a glioma we would love to try to help out any way we can she said we have this trial which is not widely available and we hope that thats going to be an avenue to help some pets that wouldnt otherwise be able to get help
boudreau is hopeful and optimistic much like the families that enroll their dogs in her study
when owners enroll what theyre looking for is something they can do because it gives them a source of hope when they cant do any of the other treatments but find out they can try this for their pet i have to explain to them that it might not actually be effective; there could be complications she said
but at the end of the day the ones who sign up say theyre just happy to have something they can try that gives them hope for the next day when we send the patients home after their injection because theyre doing well enough to go home and we walk down that hallway to the front door that makes it worth it every time
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
canyon texasthe texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) west texas a&m university (wt) and the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) will celebrate on thursday june 3 the grand opening of two facilities that will further expand upon the texas a&m university systems (texas a&m system) veterinary medical education and research missions in the texas panhandle
texas a&m system chancellor john sharp texas a&m president dr kathy banks wt president dr walter wendler cvmbs dean dr john august texas a&m vice chancellor and college of agriculture and life sciences dean dr patrick stover and tvmdl director dr bruce akey will commemorate the opening of the charles w doc graham 53 dvm the texas a&m university system center during a ceremony beginning at 10 am outside of the center
the center comprises the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) building and the charles w graham dvm tvmdl building both facilities opened in september signaling the culmination of the texas a&m systems investment in large animal health in the texas panhandle the project is supported by $90 million in capital improvements and $5 million in faculty hires for a total of $95 million in investment in the region ground was broken on both buildings in december 2018
the grand opening ceremony will be streamed live at vetmedtamuedu/vero/grand-opening/
the vero building is a $22-million 36 000-square-foot facility that now serves as a regional veterinary teaching center that creates a gateway to the cvmbs for students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine from the texas panhandle and west texas while also facilitating collaborative multidisciplinary research among scientists from across the region
not only are wt pre-veterinary students taught in the facility but it will also serve as the home for the cvmbs 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program which will enroll its first cohort of 18 first-year dvm students in the fall of 2021
the vero initiative offers other unique educational opportunities for current cvmbs veterinary students including fourth-year clinical rotations immersive externships summer internships and food animal production-focused tours that introduce them to the region and the livestock industries
the building also houses on-site researchers who will continue to address panhandle-specific issues and those with broad impact on the livestock industries
to support the educational mission of vero the texas a&m system also announced last year a $5 million commitment to support additional faculty hires
the tvmdl facility named after a texas a&m distinguished alumnus and one of texas most renowned equine veterinarians is a $176-million 22 000-square-foot building that features the latest technology for diagnostic services in bacteriology pathology serology and virology as well as spaces for receiving and processing and necropsy and support
the opening of the building in september signaled a relocation to canyon from its previous location in amarillo which was opened in 1975 to specifically serve the panhandles cattle feedlot industry as an extension of the college station-based laboratory
almost 50 years later tvmdls panhandle laboratory has expanded its clientele beyond livestock producers offering testing for almost every animal species for some of the largest animal agriculture companies in the world as well as the ever-important smaller independent producers
the canyon-based facility offers an open-flow laboratory environment for enhanced collaboration including one of only two high-containment biosafety level 3 (bsl-3) laboratories in texas specifically designed to test for animal diseases that pose a significant threat to the agriculture economy and public health
even as one of the largest and busiest diagnostic labs in the country tvmdl makes education and training of colleagues a priority and will serve as a practical training ground for future veterinarians while also actively providing training experiences for undergraduates residents newly minted dvms and postdoctoral students
both the vero facility and tvmdls relocation to the wt campus will further strengthen the tamus focus on veterinary medicine in the panhandle
dr charles w doc graham 53 is a texas a&m distinguished alumnus and one of the worlds top equine veterinarians a leader in texas horse and cattle industries and a tireless volunteer advocate and youth mentor
graham is the only individual to serve as president for both the texas quarter horse association (tqha) and the texas thoroughbred association (tta) and is the only person to be selected as horseman of the year by both associations he has also been recognized by texas a&ms agrilife college of agriculture & life sciences and cvmbs as well as having been inducted into multiple halls of fame
his veterinary career included building with dr w h cardwell the elgin veterinary hospital in the early 1960s which grew into one of the largest equine veterinary facilities in the nation graham is now owner of a number of other businesses including the 1 300-acre southwest stallion station in elgin which has bred some of the top stallions and broodmares in the quarter horse industry
in 2018 it was announced that the new canyon-based texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory would bear grahams name the naming of the center in his honor was approved during the texas a&m system board of regents quarterly meeting in november 2020
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary education research & outreach (vero) programs newest assistant professor of microbial ecology and infectious disease dr matthew scott is on a mission to prevent infectious disease in cattle living in high-risk settings such as feedlot facilities
i investigate host/infectious disease relationships regarding clinical bovine respiratory disease (brd) with bioinformatic (a field including biology computer science information engineering and mathematics) and molecular approaches scott said largely what i am wanting to do is develop pipelines that we can use to investigate and mitigate risk of infectious disease specifically in terms of respiratory disease
brd the leading disease complex in cattle can cause pneumonia in calves which is often fatal
in us cattle alone the us department of agriculture estimates that this disease complex costs the feedlot industry around $1 billion annually the devastating effects result from host pathogen and environmental interactions that are incompletely understood
one thing im interested in right now is identifying candidate biomarkers candidate molecules specifically expressed genes and functional mechanisms of cattle related to brd especially in high-risk settings he said we can use that information to predict risk of disease before affected cattle ever show clinical signs of disease
scott believes that because the vero program is based in the texas panhandle the nations leading region for beef production it is the ideal place to investigate brd and develop solutions to ensure the stability of our nations food supply while also preventing disease-driven economic loss in the cattle industry
from a research perspective my decision to join vero comes down to geography personnel and industry he said the vero team is putting together a long list of really impressive and well-known respiratory disease and livestock researchers dr paul morley dr sarah capik and dr dee griffin have been involved in respiratory disease research for a while and are very good at it
scotts drive to promote bovine health began from an early age
im looking forward to talking to producers and practitioners alike and getting to implement some of the research ive been working on especially in real-world settings there are so many new ideas so many new concepts and so many new ways to approach these questions that the world is our oyster
i got into beef cattle production and started working in the dairy industry in north florida during my junior year of high school he said i really just fell in love with it
he graduated from louisiana state university in 2013 with a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences and continued his education at mississippi state university earning his doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) in 2018 he is currently wrapping up his phd in veterinary medical science – infectious diseases at mississippi state university and will earn a minor in computational biology in addition to his doctorate
scott says he entered veterinary school with the intention of becoming a dairy cattle veterinarian but became enamored with the field of immunology while conducting research on catfish his work with brd combines these two passions and fills a much-needed niche in the veterinary profession
immunology is a world we cant really see scott said what drew me in was that theres so much we dont understand; theres so much about these organismswhether they are bacterial fungal or viraland their interactions with hosts that we just dont have a firm grasp on like we do with humans dogs cats and everything else
by combining his aptitude for data science and the geographic advantages of the vero program scott looks forward to applying his research toward improving bovine health in the hands-on environment of cattle operations
the thing that brings me the most joy is the idea of utilizing some of these more basic science concepts and applying them to aspects of field diagnostics and field research with cattle scott said i want to be the bridging scientist who uses the tools we apply in high-level computational approaches and asks ‘how can we apply them down chute side on a feedlot
the robust connection with local industry vero has formed in its home base of canyon will be vital to conducting groundbreaking research in areas pertaining to feedlot animal health
the vero program has set itself up to stand out in that regard with personnel and resources and by directly working with the industry itself he said that is a recipe for success in terms of researching a disease complex like brd
scott is also eager to instruct future students and share his passion for immunology and animal health
the opportunity to teach students is exciting regardless of whether theyre veterinary graduate or undergraduate students he said i want to teach them to consider new ideas in a molecular way of thinking in livestock production
where were headed with research helps to guide what we will teach within the next five to 10 years he said implementing these newer ideas of thinking about disease and management really excites me as a future educator
he will join the vero team on june 7 and plans to hit the ground running on his research endeavors integration into the vero team and building relationships with the cattle industry
there are a lot of things to be excited about including being in a new place getting to join a new team and meeting new people hearing new ideas and collaborating with new scientists he said im looking forward to talking to producers and practitioners alike and getting to implement some of the research ive been working on especially in real-world settings there are so many new ideas so many new concepts and so many new ways to approach these questions that the world is our oyster
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) has a new vehicle in its fleet that will expand the teams capabilities by allowing it to evacuate animals from areas most heavily impacted by disaster
the 28-foot trailer is a donation from the banfield foundation a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the second vehicle the group has donated to the vet they previously donated a medical platform truck in 2017 that has since been deployed several times in vet responses along the texas coast
the new trailer will be largely used in the evacuation phase of hurricanes and flooding enabling faster and safer transportation of animals to hospitalization or shelter areas it can comfortably transport 44 small animals as well as enable ill injured or anxious animals to be separated from other animals undergoing assessment or treatment
time and time again we witness the highly compassionate and effective disaster response capabilities from dr wesley bissett and his incredible team said kim van syoc executive director of the banfield foundation we are honored to once again increase our investment in texas a&m and the entire vet as we collectively work toward reducing the devastating consequences of disasters and increasing access to veterinary care and shelter for animals in urgent need
this is the first vet vehicle designed for evacuation of animals which will add a new dimension of response capability
the trailer was custom designed by the vet based on its unique needs and insights from prior deployments along with the 44 kennels it features an onboard generator two rooftop air conditioning units a 30-gallon freshwater tank and exterior flood lights that will allow the vehicle to be used in any conditions
this vehicle also has the potential to be utilized during non-emergency situations with the vet
when not deployed in an emergency the vet works with communities and local agencies to train and develop emergency plans the vet also educates fourth-year veterinary students on disaster response during two-week clinical rotations this addition really expands our ability to respond in the past for the most part weve had to rely on people bringing their animals to us this is going to allow us to go into the hardest-hit areas and get our hands on those animals faster said vet director dr wesley bissett time is critical in emergency response so were incredibly grateful to the banfield foundation for this vehicle because its going to really change the way were able to respond
the texas a&m veterinary emergency team deploys the largest and most sophisticated veterinary medical disaster response team in the country since its creation in 2011 the vet has cared for thousands of animals while responding to areas impacted by wildfires tornadoes hurricanes floods and more the team has also been deployed out of state to assist with sheltering efforts during wildfires in california in both 2018 and 2020 dedicated to serving our state and nation every day the team prides itself on adhering to the aggie core values through response outreach education research and selfless service by developing and providing cutting-edge emergency management education advancing knowledge in emergency-preparedness education and response and building upon the legacy of service that is at the heart of texas a&m university
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
through an international multi-institutional effort coordinated by the world health organization (who) dr h morgan scott a professor of veterinary pathobiology in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) helped develop the tricycle protocol for global one health surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
this surveillance method is based on estimating the prevalence of enteric bacteria called extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing e coli (esbl e coli) that are sometimes found in the human body food animal populations and the environment by measuring yearly how much of this bacterial indicator of antimicrobial resistance (amr) is present in these three areas under strictly controlled conditions researchers can assess and track at a global level the changing status of antimicrobial resistance using statistical analyses
esbl e coli can produce at least one of a class of enzymes called extended spectrum beta-lactamases that make the bacteria harder to treat with older and newer classes of beta-lactam antibiotics because these enzymes confer resistance to such drugs esbl e coli were chosen for this who project specifically because they are associated with an increased risk for severe morbidity and mortality in humans are found globally at varying rates between countries and can readily cross barriers between humans animals and the environment
as the name suggests (tricycle) the protocol is purposely designed to be very simple and focused initially only on esbl e coli however in its simplicity lies an inherent capacity to be expanded into larger sample populations and then to additional bacteria and resistance types scott said this is likely the very first truly one health amr monitoring protocol issued by the world health organization though i have earlier assisted them in drafting guidance on the design and implementation of monitoring and surveillance more generally
antimicrobial resistance is a global and growing problem in which harmful microbes have acquired the means to overcome the drugs we use to fight them this not only threatens human health by reducing the number of tools we have to fight certain infections but also threatens the food supply when these bacteria colonize food animals according to the us centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) the annual cost of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is estimated to be between $4-5 billion
it is important to monitor antimicrobial resistance among both pathogenic and commensal bacteria in order to observe the emergence propagation and spread of any potential threats to human and animal health scott said
the tricycle protocol represents a genuine one health effort as it enables comparing the prevalence of esbl-producing e coli in humans animals and the environment between different countries
this protocol also enables countries to begin to implement a national integrated surveillance system on antimicrobial resistance the who advocates the adoption of national actions plans (naps) through their regional and country offices this three-wheeled approach can readily be extended to other subsectors and provinces
esbl-producing e coli have been chosen as the single indicator of antimicrobial resistance to increase this approachs simplicity and efficiency
bacteria and resistance know no international boundaries they move freely across the globe in human and animal intestinal tracts and through the environment such as with migrating birds scott said
much effort has been directed to capacity building in the human sector through the who global antimicrobial and use surveillance system (glass) and on integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain under the who advisory group on integrated surveillance (agisar) the food and agriculture organization of the united nations (fao) and the world organization for animal health (oie) have supported many countries to increase surveillance capacities the tricycle protocol extends to non-human sectors and is closely tied to who glass
while monitoring of antimicrobial resistance can be relatively simple to implement it also is critically important for establishing the status of the bacterial populations that give rise to infections that might require treatment scott said knowledge is power whether it be for allocating public health resources and prioritizing policies or for making clinical decisions regarding treatment in human or animal patients
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team of aggies from the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) school of public health and college of medicine co-hosted the 2021 consortium of universities for global health (cugh) virtual conference this march
approximately 1 900 participants from more than 100 countries attended this years conference addressing critical gaps in global health and development which also included more than 47 educational sessions and 700 poster presentations
as one of the six host universities for the conference texas a&m was represented on the executive planning committee by cvmbs director of international programs dr linda logan cvmbs global one health program coordinator erika walker school of public health professor dr brian colwell and college of medicine instructional associate professor dr josé florez-arango
texas a&ms plenary session training the next generation of global health/one health professionals was moderated by cvmbs associate dean for global one health dr gerald parker and had more than 250 attendees school of public health dean dr shawn gibbs was one of the four speakers addressing the importance of training future global health practitioners to coordinate across disciplines
the plenary session provided an opportunity to talk about transformative education models needed to prepare next generation professionals for global health careers and the skills they need to solve new and complex global health challenges of the future parker said
master of public health student blanca brosig a graduate assistant in the cvmbs global one health office contributed directly to the conference organization as a project assistant by conducting a needs and gaps analysis applying for grants and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders
brosig also had the opportunity to facilitate a networking session during the conference which allowed her to meet leading experts from the national institutes of health (nih) and united states agency for international development (usaid)
i believe conversations such as these are important to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration across borders and im glad that texas a&m was able to be part of that dialogue brosig said as a future global public health professional this opportunity showed me the range of one health and the importance of cross-cultural communication to tackle some of the worlds biggest healthcare issues im extremely grateful to dr linda logan and erika walker from the office of global one health and international programs for welcoming me onto their team and providing me with the tools necessary to succeed
in addition logan gave welcoming remarks on the first day of the conference; texas a&m associate professor of english dr jessica howell contributed to a concurrent session; and 12 other university scientists and students from across disciplines presented their research in the poster program
i very much enjoyed working with the executive planning committee of the cugh to develop a timely and highly relevant 2021 annual meeting program logan said i have been so impressed with the skilled leadership of dr keith martin (executive director of the cugh) and his team dr martins skills in diplomacy and keen ability to conduct interviews with global health authorities and his clear succinct summarization of their key points is truly amazing
the cugh was established in 2008 and consists of more than 170 academic institutions and other organizations from around the world including texas a&m university engaged in addressing global health challenges
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
there are almost 90 million dogs living in the united states
so when the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and university of washington (uw) school of medicine launched the dog aging project (dap) in november 2019 seeking canine participants the research team knew owners across the country would answer the call
and answer they did
nearly 30 000 dog owners have volunteered for this community science research project dedicated to understanding the biological and environmental determinants of canine aging
now more than a year later the dog aging project is looking for additional canine participants for this research and affiliated study opportunities
while all kinds of dogs are still welcome to join dap researchers are specifically seeking dogs both purebred and mixed breed in the following categories:
healthy aging is the result of both genetics and the environment its really important for us to study dogs who live in all kinds of environments from farm dogs to city dogs said dr daniel promislow dap principal investigator and co-director and professor of pathology and biology at uw right now we are specifically recruiting dogs from areas where we dont have as many participants as wed like to
because the dap is a 10-year study puppies are especially beneficial to the project because enrolled puppies can participate throughout their entire lives
better understanding the health effects of the presence and timing of spaying and neutering your dogs is of particular interest to the veterinary community said dr kate creevy dap chief veterinary officer and cvmbs associate professor of veterinary internal medicine following puppies through the process of spaying or neutering or through reproductive activity will tell us a lot about how these events influence healthy aging
as the largest research data-gathering program of its kind the dap offers numerous opportunities to glean important information on canine lifespan but also canine healthspan which refers to the period of life spent free from disease
because the nature of the project is collaborative all data collected by the dap are available to researchers worldwide through terra a cloud-based computing platform located at the broad institute of massachusetts institute of technology and harvard university
the dap research team includes more than 40 experts from a variety of fields and institutions who use the information submitted by dap participants and stored in terra to investigate many aspects of canine health and longevity these study areas include:
aging is a complex phenomenon by combining insights from many areas of veterinary research the dog aging project aims to develop the field of veterinary geroscience and ultimately develop interventions that will help dogs live longer healthier lives said dr matt kaeberlein dap co-director and uw professor of pathology
to participate in the dog aging project owners may nominate one dog per household at the project website dogagingprojectorg; they are then invited to set up a personal research portal where they answer scientific surveys about their dog and upload veterinary records
as a member of the dap pack participants will be asked to complete an annual health survey about their dog which takes two to three hours and other shorter surveys (estimated at 10-30 minutes each) throughout the year
once a dog is a member of the dap pack the dog may become eligible for a variety of other research activities all of which are voluntary; these could include genetic analyses the collection of biological samples or even participation in a clinical trial
by summer 2021 were hoping to have 60 000 pack members eligible for additional studies creevy said these animals bring so much to our lives our entire team is dedicated to extending quality of life into advanced age for dogs and their humans
the dap is a 10-year $23-million project funded by the national institute on aging (nia) a part of the national institutes of health (nih)
the dog aging project came in as an innovative approach to understand the process of aging said dr francesca macchiarini chief of the biological resources branch in nias division of aging biology this is because of the remarkable similarities between humans and their canine companions they share the same environment have similar lifestyles and when it comes to aging both species develop the same types of diseases
were going to learn in a relatively shorter period of time than we would to study the human population a lot about how biology lifestyle and environment can affect healthy aging in dogs and then have that be applicable to humans macchiarini said
for more information or to nominate your dog visit dogagingprojectorg
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; leila gray uw media relations leilag@uwedu (206) 475-9809
dr jennifer schleining a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been awarded a texas a&m provost academic professional track faculty teaching excellence award for her outstanding skills as an educator
established in 2019 the award celebrates the best instructors at texas a&m university by encouraging recognizing and rewarding faculty who provide students with meaningful learning experiences embrace effective teaching approaches and value student-centered learning
i am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be an educator at texas a&m where teaching is not only valued but supported at all levels schleining said creativity in the classroom is encouraged and student learning is truly a priority i work with an amazing group of colleagues and students who make coming to work every day fun and extremely rewarding there is no better feeling as an educator than to know you are making a positive impact and i thank everyone who contributed to my nomination for this award i am very grateful
schleining who joined the cvmbs department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) in 2018 was selected as one of 10 recipients in the 2020-2021 cohort
dr schleining is one of the most uniquely innovative teachers within the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences one nominator said she has an amazing ability to use both low- and high-technology tools to uniquely enhance active learning for students it is without question that she will continue to touch future generations of veterinarians in the years to come
as a large animal clinical educator schleining teaches students during all four years of the veterinary curriculum
her pre-clinical courses cover a variety of subjects including professional and clinical skills rural practice principles of surgery and large animal diagnostics and therapeutics she also leads fourth-year veterinary students during their food animal clinical rotations at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
dr schleining exemplifies the ‘learn one do one teach one method of helping students understand fully grasp and eventually excel in skills she teaches a student nominator said by supporting students through the learning and doing phases she pushes us to teach our peers and future colleagues once we master each concept or skill
dr schleining is one of the most uniquely innovative teachers within the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences…it is without question that she will continue to touch future generations of veterinarians in the years to come
one of schleinings most notable courses is practical large animal medicine for the rural practitioner an elective course for third-year veterinary students by giving students a realistic view of life as a rural practitioner through guest lectures and virtual reality activities she inspires many to consider working in underserved rural areas
in addition to providing aspiring rural practitioner students with the experiences of working as a veterinarian in west texas dr schleining also engages students from urban and suburban backgrounds who might not otherwise be exposed to the unique challenges of veterinary rural practice another nominator said in doing so dr schleining helps all students develop an appreciation and understanding of rural agricultural practice
most recently schleining demonstrated her skills as an educator and desire for student success as she worked to quickly restructure her integrated animal care iii course when texas a&m moved to all virtual classes during the spring 2020 semester
after incorporating her new virtual teaching plan in this required course for second-year veterinary students she learned that many students felt overwhelmed by the increased level of work required in the virtual environment and immediately began restructuring again
the complete reorganization of the class two times over demonstrates dr schleinings dedication to student-centered learning the student nominator said the effort she puts into the daily learning experience is unmatched
schleining also inspires her fellow educators to incorporate student-centered learning as much as possible
in addition to serving as an example of an excellent role model for students and trainees dr schleining serves as a supportive figure and mentor for her colleagues another nominator said whether providing support to a fellow faculty member designing new course materials or helping a colleague navigate a challenging conversation with a student dr schleining serves as an invaluable source of wisdom and support
in september 2020 schleining took on a new position in addition to her teaching roles as one of two directors for the office of veterinary continuing education which provides lecture-based conferences hands-on laboratories and virtual continuing education opportunities for practicing veterinarians and veterinary technicians
schleining joined the cvmbs from iowa state university where she had earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) in 2001 completed a large animal surgery residency in 2008 and earned a masters degree in veterinary clinical science in 2009
as part of her recognition she will receive a monetary award from the marie m and james h galloway foundation and has been invited to collaborate with the texas a&m center for teaching excellence to share her expertise with other instructors across campus
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
with a love for both computers and biology texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) graduate student dr daniel osorio has found the perfect fit to improve the study of cancer through his work in the field of computational biology
as a recipient of the 2020 marie skłodowska-curie actions research fellowship osorio will be heading to the kuijjer lab in oslo norway this april to study the gene regulatory changes driving breast cancer over the next 36 months
you can describe cancer using gene expression or you can describe cancer using the genetic information of the cells osorio said if you integrate all that data together it will give you more hints about which change is inducing the disease
unlike the stereotypical biomedical researcher who uses test tubes and wears lab coats osorio conducts his research through a computer by developing computational tools he turns plain data into models that construct an in-depth look at the biology behind different diseases
my main goal is to develop tools that are broad enough to be applied to anythingstudying cancer is just one example osorio said i like to develop methods or tools to understand how things happen in the cell using numbers i want to develop methods that are flexible and powerful enough to detect the biology behind the differences between conditions
at the cvmbs osorio has worked with dr james j cai an associate professor in the cvmbs department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) to study the regulatory mechanisms of genes at the single-cell level
the cai lab focuses on understanding diverse behaviors of cells by developing computational analytical frameworks to study single-cell multiomics data (different types of data on the same cell-type) and the genetic basis of phenotypic variability in human populations
during my phd i developed a family of tools trying to understand how one gene regulates the other in the cell osorio said we let our algorithms model and compare data and then we associate that information with what is known to see how the interactions between genes are related to the specific processes happening in the cell
osorios work begins after researchers gather data by breaking tissues down into single cells which contain nucleotidesthe building blocks of dnathat can be traced back to the genome to identify which genes are being expressed
osorio puts this data into numerical matrices with each number representing how many times each gene is expressed in a specific cell the matrices are then used to understand how the relationships between the genes change in different cellular states
its a network a cloud of connections between genes that we compare to see what the difference is between the sick and healthy groups he said
during his time at texas a&m osorio has published seven peer-reviewed papers and two software packages and has received two awards from the texas a&m institute of data science his doctoral dissertation covers the full spectrum of computational methods dealing with single-cell gene expression analysis
daniel is a gifted student with genius-level skills in computational biology cai said he is exceptionally skillful working with biological data sets which are heterogeneous and complex by nature he also has a good command of statistics and linear algebra and is highly skillful in programming
osorios research at texas a&m will support future projects on specific diseases including his research in norway where he will work on the integration of multiomic and multimodal single-cell data using network approaches
by finding the differences and causal relationships between genes scientists will have a better understanding of the genetic cascade that leads to breast cancer and therefore will have a better chance at treating it
because cancer is a heterogeneous disease (meaning it can have several causes) we want to identify which cell type is the most important in developing breast cancer since the breast contains different cell types he said then once we identify which cell is the one driving the disease we can identify the genetic mechanism driving that disease by comparing the genes of the healthy people against the affected individuals
osorio will be moving to norway this spring to start his new position and research having come to texas from his hometown of bucaramanga colombia he is no stranger to moving to a new country
moving to another country makes me nervous but it is also exciting he said its a new experience
when he first learned about the marie skłodowska-curie actions research fellowship which provides full funding for selected researchers who will conduct their work within europe osorio was attracted to the freedom it offered
this fellowship is a way to show people that you can get your own funding and complete your own ideas he said it is very flexible because you can do the research you like and in the way you like it
during his time in norway osorio plans to pursue internships at other labs around the world to continue his work and meet more scientists in the field of computational biology and then continue his career either in industry or in his own lab
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as a self-described thrill-seeker future wildlife and exotic animal veterinarian austin warren looks forward to the day he can work up close and personal with animals that many other people may find frightening
im not scared of many animals; i enjoy the excitement of seeing wild animals in person the lewisville native said i remember a book my mom bought me when i was growing up that was basically a huge encyclopedia of exotic animals i used to love the thrill i got from reading it and i knew i wanted to explore and learn more about those kinds of animals in my future profession
currently in his first year of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) biomedical sciences masters non-thesis program warren works hard each day to get closer to achieving his goal
after he earned a bachelors degree in biomedical sciences in 2020 warren decided to pursue a masters degree to enhance his future application to veterinary school and to have more time for gaining hands-on experience with animalsone of his favorite pastimes
ive always been an adventurous person he said when i was a boy scout and then an eagle scout i went camping and got to see black bears brown bears exotic cats and all of these different types of animals out in the wild since then ive always been fascinated with the complexities and different natures that exotic animals have
beyond working with wild animals warren also plans to make teaching and inspiring children a large part of his future career
ive always had a drive to give back to the next generation he said im a big proponent of making sure that the people who come after us have a better experience than we had ive always connected well with young children so i want to spark some love for animals in them and teach them about wildlife thats the ultimate goal for me
i remember one time in particular there was a guy who came to my elementary school with a bunch of different snakes and exotic birds he recalled he knew so many different facts about those animals and i found that so cool and interesting i want to have that same effect on children
warren is in the perfect place to build on his animal knowledge at the cvmbs especially from his faculty mentor dr alice blue-mclendon director of the winnie carter wildlife center
its been a real pleasure to work with austin blue said he is an excellent graduate student and athlete and its fun to work with students who are really driven and want to be exotic animal veterinarians
in addition to studying for his masters degree and gaining experience with exotic animals wherever and whenever possible warren stays busy working as a large animal caretaker at the texas a&m large animal hospital (lah) and running sprints as a member of texas a&ms track and field team
while some might buckle under the pressure of so many demands warren credits his father andre warren 89 as his motivation for working hard each day toward his degree and future career
my father is such a hard worker and hes showed me that if you want something in life you have to be determined and work hard for it warren said he set the foundation for me to be able to strive dream big and achieve the goals that i go after
i used to stay very much within my own comfort zone i didnt like to go over and talk to people unless i knew them already he said my dad pushed me and showed me that if you want something you sometimes have to take that first step ever since then ive made it almost second nature to introduce myself get to know people and show my personality
recently that willingness to show his personality led warren to submit a video for the scrubs company figs new icons grant competition that celebrates students in the medical fields who are working to improve the future of healthcare by awarding five scholarships of $50 000
a couple friends who are good at film and i got together one weekend and filmed a video in which i said why i deserved to win and what i want to do in the future he said two or three weeks later im at work and i get an email saying im a finalist; then literally the next day i get a call from the ceo of figs and she told me i won the scholarship im not going to lie i almost passed out
everything changed for me at that point because now my story has been shared all over the internet he said ive gotten a lot of love and support from people and ive gotten so many new opportunities and doors opened because of it like people reaching out to me saying ‘hey if youre ever in town and you want to come to the clinic just let me know im going to be forever grateful for that
as he prepares to apply for veterinary school next year warren has no plans to slow down in his efforts to achieve his dreams of working with wild and exotic animals
becoming a veterinarian is something ive been really wanting and striving for nearly five years now warren said ive been determined and focused while trying to chase the dream and im just going to keep pushing until i get there
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when lampasas community cats first brought iroh a siamese-mix kitten into the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) they were unsure of his fate based on his unusual condition the non-profit organization didnt know if anyone would be able to adopt him
but thanks to texas a&ms small animal hospital iroh was fixed upliterallyand found a forever home with the fourth-year veterinary student assigned to his case rachel ellerd
ellerd met iroh when he presented to the sah emergency & critical care service (ecc) for suspected paraphimosis or the inability to retract the penis
under closer examination however irohs condition was much more unique the anatomical position of his penis and testicles was inverted and no prepucial skin was covering his penis he also did not present with a normal scrotum it was determined that he likely had a rare condition called genital dysplasia or penoscrotal transposition possibly associated with a congenital xy chromosomal disorder that occurred during sexual development
his specific condition is so rare that it is almost unheard of in veterinary literature but luckily dr james bilof a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) had seen one similar case while working as a shelter veterinarian
after dr lance wheeler an ecc veterinary resident determined that irohs case although unusual did not need immediate correction ellerd reached out to lampasas community cats as a potential foster
it was a match made in heaven ellerd said i had been wanting to adopt a cat for some time as soon as i saw iroh i knew he was the onehe just loved to be held and would not stop purring he is a special-needs cat and i knew that as a future veterinarian id have the knowledge to monitor his condition and guarantee proper care
although iroh had found a potential home he was not in the clear yet he spent weeks battling diarrhea and ringworm while being slowly brought up to an ideal size and weight so that surgery would be much more tolerable
after months of fostering iroh ellerd brought him back to the sah to be neutered but was hit with frustrating newsa previously undetected liver condition would push back his surgery even further
i was devastated i thought we were finally going to be able to fix him but his pre-anesthetic bloodwork revealed a significant increase in alt an enzyme linked to liver disease in cats ellerd said i was worried that he may have another congenital issue we didnt know what caused it but decided it was best to postpone his surgery until we could find out more
iroh was placed on liver medications and a specialized diet and at his recheck one month later his liver values had improved
under the guidance of bilof and clinical assistant professor dr brad bennett in the general surgery service fourth-year veterinary student eva trevino performed irohs surgery while ellerd assisted the anesthesia team since iroh was able to urinate well on his own it was decided to leave his penis as it is and simply remove the testicles like a typical neuter
it was all such a fun memory and positive experience trevino said the most unique neuter ill likely do in my whole career on a patient whos just an absolute sweetheart
after the surgery was successfully completed ellerd was finally able to finish the adoption process from lampasas community cats
iroh now lives comfortably at home and is 100% spoiled according to ellerd
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two members of the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) have received distinguished achievement awards from the association of former students for their positive impact on texas a&m
the university-level awards are presented each year to faculty and staff who exhibit the highest standards of excellence
hammons cvmbs instructional technologist was recognized in the staff category
hammons was an essential part of the colleges move to online learning last spring at the outset of the covid-19 pandemic in a support letter for her nomination for the award cvmbs clinical associate professor dr tracy vemulapalli emphasized how crucial hammons role was
dr hammons saved our entire teaching program she wrote this is neither hyperbole nor an idle boast this past spring educators in our college were faced with a single week to switch from face-to-face to remote learning as educators are already tasked with heavy teaching demands this had the potential to significantly undermine our teaching effectivenessto our students detriment from that day on dr laura hammons has led the charge to help us meet this challenge head-on
hammons also was instrumental in moving the colleges job and externship fair online which included more than 400 students and 160 veterinary practice representatives; she oversaw the colleges adoption of a secure exam platform exammonitor; and she helped move the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) students communication curriculum online coordinating students professors and actors through zoom sessions to replicate the pre-covid-19 experience as closely as possible
associate dean for professional programs dr karen cornell summed up hammons contribution in her nomination letter
when i read the description of this award i cannot imagine a candidate who has demonstrated more clearly a significant contribution to the welfare of texas a&m university beyond the expectations of their position she wrote
voges a clinical professor of radiology in the cvmbs department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) was recognized in the teaching category
according to dr susan eades associate dean for administration for the cvmbs canyon campus and former vlcs department head voges is nationally known for developing curriculum to teach diagnostic ultrasound skills to veterinary students and graduate veterinarians
dr voges has developed sequential laboratories that utilize low-fidelity and high-fidelity models that start with basic principles and sequentially add skills and concepts toward development of diagnostic imaging capability needed for the practice of veterinary medicine eades wrote these learning experiences are well designed to align with clear objectives
this in-depth instruction at texas a&m is superior to that of most veterinary schools and the diagnostic ultrasound skill of texas a&m graduates is known nationally eades continued veterinarians employing our graduates and summer extern students have been very impressed by the skills of our graduates since implementation of the curriculum developed by dr voges
voges who also received an association college-level outstanding achievement in teaching award also trains and mentors veterinary residents and interns as a result of her teaching methods and preparing residents for the american college of veterinary radiologists certification exam the pass rate for texas a&m residents is above the national average at more than 90%
in reviewing dr voges dossier and reading the comments made by her students it is quite apparent that she is making an enormous impact on the careers of young veterinarians eades wrote she is certainly deserving of this prestigious award
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
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dr l garry adams a senior professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been selected as the american college of veterinary microbiologists (acvm) distinguished veterinary microbiologist of 2021
this award recognizes a veterinary microbiologist whose career has made important contributions to the field in the areas of research teaching and service
being the american college of veterinary microbiologists 2021 distinguished veterinary microbiologist is both unimaginable and humbling to me adams said my life with the microbes is both intriguing and haunting as our journey with microbes will never end
dr adams has made a career of discovery and breaking new ground said cvmbs associate professor dr sara lawhon who nominated adams for the award his lasting legacy though is his impact on the lives of his students colleagues and friends and the relationships he continues to build
adams a member of the cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) has a long and distinguished career studying zoonotic organisms host-pathogen interactions and molecular pathogenesis of infectious disease according to the acvm
his work has led to more than 270 publications from his studies of infectious diseases in livestock and wildlife particularly zoonotic diseases that also impact human health
he has substantively contributed to animal health and regulatory programs for brucellosis salmonellosis and mycobacterial infections said dr tamara gull a colleague of adams from the university of missouri who also nominated him for the award
adams has also had an international impact from his role as a visiting professor in germany and canada and his collaborations with researchers in kazakhstan south africa russia argentina mexico colombia egypt and other countries
as a previous associate dean for research & graduate studies at the cvmbs adams has made great contributions to the colleges overall research missions as well
in the area of teaching adams has guided the work of 154 graduate students hosted 11 visiting scientists and mentored dozens of postdoctoral researchers during his 53 years as a cvmbs faculty member
he currently gives lectures to undergraduate and graduate students on the concept of one health (the interdependent health of humans animals and ecosystems) and the role of bacteria in health and disease
to his students colleagues and community he continues to provide new knowledge about animal and human health and to provide an example of conscientious dedication to his craft and profession lawhon said
as an aggie himself having earned a bachelors degree in 1963 a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1964 and a phd in 1968all from texas a&madams continues to give back to future generations of aggies through his role in the classroom
because of his expertise in the areas of biodefense and the prevention of foreign animal diseases adams has served on numerous national and international committees and advisory boards
he has contributed to the national academy of sciences (nas) national research council standing committee on the us department of defenses (dod) programs to counter biological threats the dod committee on biodefense and the 2017 nas revisiting brucellosis in the greater yellowstone area report
adams was also invited by dr anthony fauci to serve as a member of the national institute of allergy and infectious diseases blue ribbon panel on bioterrorism and its implications for biomedical research
his extensive and impactful roles in research teaching and service have also led adams to be recognized with the 2012 american veterinary medical association (avma) lifetime excellence in research award the 2015 american association of veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) senator john melcher dvm leadership in public policy award and the 2017 avma award
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) winnie carter wildlife center (wcwc) is the new home for two przewalskis horses (p horses) a critically endangered species from mongolia that is considered to be the last truly wild horse in existence
at the wcwc the p horses will help teach veterinary and undergraduate students about exotic animal care and the importance of species conservation
przewalskis horses nearly became extinct in the wild in 1969 leading conservation scientists around the world to begin breeding programs of captive p horses in the hope of saving the species the captive-bred individuals were reintroduced to the wild in the 1990s and today several healthy herds can be seen roaming the steppes of central asia
captive breeding still continues however to maintain a diverse gene pool in the species with the p horses species survival plancreated by the association of zoos and aquariumsdetermining which individuals remain in the breeding program those that dont stay in the program go on to find homes at safari parks and wildlife centers across the united states
this is how the wcwcs director dr alice blue-mclendon learned about the opportunity to bring a pair of p horses to texas a&m she was contacted in december 2020 about providing a home for two males dash and tegus
the 8- and 9-year-old p horses were born at san diego safari park and because their genetics were already well-represented in the parks p horse population they were sent to fossil rim wildlife center in glen rose texas
fossil rims director of animal care adam eyres knew the p horses would find the perfect home at texas a&m where they could live an easy life while providing a unique educational opportunity for students he called his good friend blue-mclendon who was happy to take the p horses in
one of the big opportunities the p horses provide is helping students understand conservation and educating them about things like the species survival plan and how that helps ensure that animals with very limited numbers maintain a good gene pool as theyre reintroduced to the wild blue-mclendon said
its important to preserve species because the planet is a very diverse place with lots of different animals plants and insects she said as humans we dont always tread gently on this planet and its important that we preserve the diversity of plant and animal life for future generations
in addition to providing a real-life example of the benefits of species conservation the p horses will give students the opportunity to care for a wild equid species in captivity and learn the similarities and differences between them and domestic horses
the p horses care is very similar to a domesticated horses but well probably never be able to pet them blue-mclendon said theyll need to be routinely vaccinated and theyll need hoof trims one to two times a year we will probably work on training them to make it easier to perform veterinary procedures
though the p horses were raised in captivity they had little direct contact with humans and maintain the shy personality they share with their wild cousins
dash and tegus will live in a private two-acre pasture until their quarantine period ends after which they may move to a shared space with other herbivores the wcwc is also home to a female zebra that provides similar learning opportunities for students but these species will never be kept together because of the possibility of interbreeding
in general these animals are going to provide additional experience for our undergraduate and veterinary students to be able to work with non-domesticated equids blue mclendon said there are only seven different species in the equine family one of which is the domestic horse so having a zebra and these p horses provides additional teaching opportunities for example weve already planned to do a hoof trim in april on one of the p horses for our third-year veterinary student elective
as the p horses settle into their new home blue-mclendon and the others at the wcwc are looking forward to seeing their personalities emerge
dash and tegus are delightful and very entertaining to watch she said theyve been together their whole lives and they are very bonded
weve been working with them very intensely and theyre already comfortable coming close to people to get their grain and treats she said because of their daily interaction with lots of students and staff theyre already becoming a little bit more approachable than i expected which is fantastic
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the united kingdom variant (b117) of sars-cov-2 the virus that causes covid-19 has been detected for the first time in a dog and a cat from the same household in brazos county texas as part of a study led by researchers at texas a&m university
the first reported finding of the b117 human variant virus in any animal worldwide this detection of the uk variant in animals in a natural household setting reinforces the importance of having procedures in place to monitor the sars-cov-2 viral genome as it crosses species barriers giving specialists both insight and time to study potential new variants before they spread through animal or human populations
surveillance of sars-cov-2 in animals in and around households and genetic investigations of the virus from infected pets are critically important for understanding the transmission and evolution of the virus as well as predicting what may happen next said dr sarah hamer a veterinarian and epidemiologist in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) who serves as principal investigator for the covid-19 & pets study that uncovered the variant
the b117 variant was confirmed in both pets a senior black lab-mix dog and a senior domestic shorthair cat from the household where the owner was diagnosed with covid-19 in mid-february
the pets were tested on feb 12 only two days after their owner was diagnosed with covid-19 as part of an ongoing research project funded by the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) which is being conducted by researchers in texas a&ms cvmbs college of agriculture and life sciences (coals) and school of public health
neither animal showed any overt sign of illness at the time of their positive tests
whole genome sequencing results from the respiratory swabs collected from the animals last month were completed march 12 at the us department of agricultures (usda) national veterinary services laboratories (nvsl) and showed the dog and cat had identical sequences of the b117 variant
these companion animals were retested march 11 at which time the owner disclosed that the dog and cat had both been sneezing over the past weeks; the owner is now reporting that both are in good health
the investigation into sars-cov-2 infections in people and pets in this household is ongoing
texas has long led the charts in the number of sars-cov-2 animal infections owing in large part to the texas a&m covid-19 & pets study in which researchers go to the homes of people recently diagnosed with covid-19 to test their pets the goals of the study are to learn more about transmission of sars-cov-2 between people and animals the potential impact of the virus on animal health and whether animals may be a reservoir for the virus (maintaining the virus in communities)
we look forward to continuing our study as the level of human vaccination increases to learn if our petswhich are unvaccinatedmay continue to be involved in the virus transmission cycles including the emerging variants hamer said
more than 450 animals living in the brazos county area have been tested in the texas a&m study since june 2020 all of which lived in a household where at least one human family member tested positive for covid-19
of the more than 60 animals confirmed with sars-cov-2 infection in the study to date less than a quarter were reported to show signs of disease around the time of the owners diagnosis most commonly including sneezing coughing diarrhea or being less active than normal to the research teams knowledge all symptomatic animals recovered without any need for veterinary care
the viral genome sequences from the dog and cat infected with b117 will be rapidly made available in a public database for use by the broader scientific community so that comparisons to other variants worldwide can be made
the work being done by texas a&m university researchers highlights that pets can also get infected with variants of sars-cov-2 because this virus can spread between people and animals it is important for people with covid-19 to stay away from pets and other animals just like they do for other people while a person is sick in order to prevent the spread of this virus to animals said dr casey barton behravesh director of the cdcs one health office
based on the information available to date the risk of pets spreading sars-cov-2 to people is considered to be low sars-cov-2 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets from coughing sneezing and talking
people with suspected or confirmed covid-19 should avoid contact with pets and other animals to protect them from infection and illness if contact cannot be avoided people with covid-19 should wear a mask around pets and wash their hands before and after interacting with them
at this time routine animal testing for covid-19 is not recommended according to the texas animal health commission (tahc) if your pet is showing symptoms consult with your veterinarian who can assess your pet for common illnesses before looking into possible sars-cov-2 infection
first detected in humans in the uk in december b117 spreads more easily and quickly than other variants and may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other forms of sars-cov-2 since its first detection in humans in the us in december 2020 this variant has now been confirmed in close to 4 000 people in the us across 50 jurisdictions and is predicted to become the dominant viral strain in the us in the coming months
the texas a&m covid-19 & pets study is a collaboration among texas a&m university including hamer and students from cvmbs dr gabriel hamer and trainees from coals and dr rebecca fischer from the school of public health; the brazos county health department; the texas department of state health services; the tahc; the cdc; the wisconsin veterinary diagnostic laboratory; and the usda nvsl
the project is ongoing those who have recently tested positive in the brazos valley texas region and would like to participate in the research by having their pets tested can learn more at txag/bcscovidresearch participation in the research includes allowing the research team to collect swabs and blood samples from companion animals
more information on keeping pets and people healthy during the pandemic is available on cdcs covid-19 website
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
four alumni from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) will receive 2021 awards during the outstanding alumni & rising star awards virtual ceremony on april 16 2021
the 2021 outstanding alumni award recipients are dr robert o bob dittmar ii 79 (posthumous) dr harold r ray emerson 65 and dr karen lass 95 the rising star award recipient is ms chelsea knutson 12
outstanding alumni are selected each year to recognize those who have reached a level of success in their professional careers that brings credit to both the individual and the cvmbs this award is the highest honor bestowed by the college and honorees may be graduates of the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) professional program graduate academic programs (ms phd) or biomedical sciences (bims) undergraduate program
established in 2013 the rising star award seeks to recognize graduates of the cvmbs who have completed their education within the last 10 years these outstanding former students have made significant professional accomplishments early in their careers including public service and volunteer activities that serve to positively reflect upon the college and texas a&m
dr bob dittmars love for texas wildlife was eclipsed only by his passion for serving his friends family and community
dittmar graduated with a bachelors degree in veterinary science in 1978 and a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1979 and began a career as a mixed animal veterinarian going on to own the kerrville veterinary clinic for nearly 10 years
in 2014 however he began a new career path as the texas parks and wildlife departments first state wildlife veterinarian in this role dittmar worked with landowners hunters and biologists to help preserve native wildlife and respond to animal health concerns
dr dittmar was especially gifted as a veterinarian one nominator said his gift was not only in his vast knowledge but in his ability to convey that knowledge in a way that others could understand although dr dittmar was responsible for the well-being of all wildlife in texas he was never too busy to answer questions or explain something to students lay persons and wildlife professionals
outside of his work dittmar spent much of his time volunteering with wildlife management associations the zion lutheran church in kerrville the hill country district junior livestock show association the texas farm bureau and more
he was passionate about passing on his knowledge of wildlife and responsible hunting to younger generations as well as contributing to texas a&m veterinary students education on wildlife diseases
maybe the most important service he provided was to the young people of texas another nominator said he gave numerous talks to youth groups about animals and wildlife and spent many hours in the field away from his family teaching young people about protecting wildlife and their habitat i dont know of anyone whose life better defines the aggie spirit of selfless service than dr dittmar
to the sadness of family friends and colleagues across the state dittmar passed away during a helicopter crash in august 2020 while conducting an aerial survey of desert bighorn sheep in west texas
his time on this earth while prematurely shortened will continue to affect many for years to come another nominator said his love for the wildlife of texas will never be forgotten bob had a distinguished life and career and is truly an outstanding alumnus of the cvmbs
he is survived by wife bernadine; children trey dittmar and whitney hild; and four grandchildren
for dr ray emerson having a positive impact on others is a fundamental aspect of both his personal life and career
after earning an associates degree from tarleton state college emerson joined the aggie family and went on to earn a bachelors degree in 1962 a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1965 and a masters degree in 1968
soon after graduation he established the emerson animal hospital and veterinary services in waco and spent 45 years there treating more than half a million large small and exotic animals
his career has spanned decades but he still maintains the enthusiasm of young person just entering the profession one nominator said his wisdom and guidance have changed the lives of both the animals and people he has crossed paths with
emerson was also one of the founders of the waco animal emergency clinic an after-hours practice that serves pet owners in the mclennan county and surrounding region extending as far north as the suburbs of dallas/fort worth and as far south as austin
he is a self-made businessman and provides leadership for waco for community development and well-being and he is a superb example of the american private enterprise system another nominator said
today emerson still practices at the same facility now the lake air animal hospital and primarily treats small animals and exotic pets
emerson has devoted many years to the advancement of the veterinary profession in texas by serving on various texas veterinary medical association committees
he is a man of deep character experience and wisdom who has mentored scores of veterinarians to reach their potential across texas another nominator said the true measure of rays accomplishments is the high esteem with which his colleagues staff and clients hold for him an esteem that is based on his commitment to excellence and the unselfish and unpretentious manner in which he works with people
beyond his career emerson is highly active in his church and community over the decades he has volunteered with a local health district zoo school board boy scout troop and lions club in addition to serving on the fellowship bible churchs greeting committee for more than 10 years
dr emerson is a beacon for others to follow for years to come another nominator said he has touched thousands of people with his professional expertise his courteous behavior and his love for community
emerson and his wife theresa live in waco; they have two childrenandrea and erik who followed in his fathers footsteps to attend texas a&m
dr karen lass has established herself as a leader in not only the national veterinary community but also as a cornerstone in her family community and the veterinary profession at large in texas
as a senior professional services veterinarian at boehringer ingelheim animal health (biah) lass visits hundreds of veterinary hospitals annually sharing successful practice protocols with clinics and training the next generation of sales representatives to ensure clinics around the nation are providing the most up-to-date care for their animal patients
dr karen lass is a supporter a giver a convener and a contributor one of her most notable traits is her constant and contagious positive attitude that never ceases to improve the world around her one nominator said dr lass epitomizes what a cvmbs outstanding alumna is supposed to be
a passionate lifelong learner lass attended the american animal hospital association- colorado state university veterinary management institute in 2018 to receive proactive management training for her leadership skills she has received a certificate in womans leadership from the american management association and a green belt in project management and leadership from the biah spark program
lass holds leadership positions on the collin county veterinary medical association board and serves on the collin college tech school advisory board she volunteers on texas veterinary medical association committees and the southwest veterinary symposium board and also coordinates boehringer ingelheim animal health support of the texas veterinary medical foundation and texas a&m leap (lending economic assistance for pets) program
more locally lass has had tremendous impact on the texas a&m veterinary community she petitioned biah to obtain funding for programs such as aggies invent: veterinary medicine and the veterinary innovation summit she also originated the idea of creating public-speaking training for house officers at the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and then sponsored and coordinated the event in addition she developed a leadership and wellness professional development program biah leadu that included attendees from texas a&m and other national veterinary schools
during covid-19 lass has worked to support vmth doctors staff and students through stress-relief initiatives
beyond her career lass is a staunch supporter of her family the local equine community and her church
dr karen lass is a great promoter of the veterinary profession and an even greater defender said another nominator she has a clear vision of the veterinary profession and the courage to enhance it and protect it
she and her husband steven ‘91 and 95 met in aggieland in 1989 their daughter faith is an aggie biomedical sciences major and son joshua is a junior at lovejoy high school
since graduating from the biomedical sciences (bims) program and earning her nursing degree from texas a&m chelsea knutson has devoted her career to advocating for survivors of sexual assault and ensuring that the texas healthcare system has the framework needed to support survivors of sexual assault trauma violent crimes child abuse and neglect
as the program manager for forensic outreach at the center of excellence in forensic nursing at texas a&m health knutson provides hands-on training and continuing education to nurses who want to become skilled and certified sexual assault nurse examiners (sanes)
knutson also works with the texas remote assistance center (tex-trac) which is funded through a grant from the office for victims of crime office of justice programs and us department of justice this grant focuses on creating a sane telehealth center at texas a&m for rural and underserved areas of texas
many rural healthcare facilities previously did not have the resources to support sexual assault survivors; however through the tex-trac teams work these patients are now able to receive the care they need through a specialized forensic nursing cart called the tele-sane cart that connects rural patients with a forensic nurse expert in real-time
when faced with situations of horrifying patient abuse and trauma chelsea understands that her patients needs come first and works long hours to ensure that her patients receive the best care possible one nominator said even when her patient is done at the hospital chelseas work with them continues as she can be called upon to provide mental health support for her patients or even testify in court for them as a medical expert
in addition to her work educating other nurses to become sanes knutson works as a sane for the baylor scott and white hospital in the college station region and she volunteers with the bryan/college station sexual assault resource center (sarc) to provide trainings speak as an expert panelist and contribute to fundraising events
in the time that i have known chelsea i have seen her commitment to improving the lives of her patients her students and her co-workers the nominator said chelsea is always the first to volunteer to help if she sees that someone is struggling with trauma in the exam room to learn a new skill in the classroom or to meet a deadline in the office
knutson and husband parker have two children4-and-a-half-year-old marshall and 10-month-old genova
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the 2020 outstanding alumni and rising star award recipients from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) will be honored during a virtual ceremony on april 16 2021 following the 2020 ceremonys cancellation
in 2020 the outstanding alumni award recipients were dr henry carwile 65 dr erin fleener 97 col steven t greiner 96 dr edward mcgruder 92 dr glenn rogers 80 and dr gordon pirie 71 the rising star award recipient was dr clayton mccook 09
outstanding alumni are selected each year to recognize those who have reached a level of success in their professional careers that brings credit to both the individual and the cvmbs this award is the highest honor bestowed by the college and honorees may be graduates of the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) professional program graduate academic programs (ms phd) or biomedical sciences (bims) undergraduate program
established in 2013 the rising star award seeks to recognize graduates of the cvmbs who have completed their education within the last 10 years these outstanding former students have made significant professional accomplishments early in their careers including public service and volunteer activities that serve to positively reflect upon the college and texas a&m
dr henry carwiles early interest in the role of immunology in health and disease research has culminated in a career that merges his veterinary training family farm and emerging polyclonal antibody technology
what began as a small endeavor in several converted dairy barns has grown to include 50 000 sq ft of space for animal housing and handling facilities offices and laboratories with a 20 000 sq ft expansion under way
this venture now known world-wide as bethyl laboratories inc opened on his family farm in montgomery texas in 1972
henry is a subtle rare talent and self-made entrepreneur who grew up in the small texas town of montgomery where he remains today providing leadership for community development and well-being a superb example of the american private enterprise system one nominator said
carwile began his education at texas a&m university where he received a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences in 1964 and his doctor of veterinary medicine in 1965
after leaving the cvmbs carwile married and enlisted in the us army following his military service he continued his education at the university of florida and tulane university receiving master of science degrees in pharmacology and immunology in 1971 and 1972 respectively
these two educational experiences along with the exceptional education henry received at texas a&m prepared him for the risky and arduous task he undertook when he returned to montgomery and set about to generate custom-designed antibodies for scientific research one nominator said
carwiles curriculum vitae is not one of the usual academic accomplishments another nominator said rather his cv is one of an accomplished scientist-inventor-entrepreneur who facilitates accelerates and internationally impacts research and science for human and animal medicine
in addition to carwiles educational and professional achievements he has been a devoted member of his community for many years as a 4-h leader member of the montgomery isd school board community economic and business developer director of the texas farm bureau and founding member of the montgomery county chapter of the young farmers of america among others
throughout his journey henry has remained the same soft-spoken kind person i grew up with a nominator said he is a man of impeccable integrity he is an outstanding graduate of the cvmbs and is certainly most deserving of this prestigious award
carwile and his wife sally have four children two of whom are involved in the family business
although growing their business was first and foremost in their minds and efforts a nominator said henry made time to become involved in their childrens lives and in the lives of others in montgomery county
dr erin fleener has remained close to texas a&m university throughout her professional career as a medical oncologist and researcher but her impact has benefitted the medical community on a much larger scale
graduating from the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences fleener went on to earn her doctor of medicine degree in 2001 from the university of texas health science center at san antonio
since 2017 fleener has been the chief of staff for chi st joseph health in bryan texas while also serving as a medical oncologist at the cancer clinic at st josephs since 2006 in 2017 fleener was elected president of st josephs medical staff
dr fleener truly exemplifies what a physician should be said one nominator not only is she an excellent oncologist but she is also someone who cares deeply about her patients she has a deep empathy for them
fleener also remains involved in academia holding a position as associate clinical professor at texas a&m health science center since 2009 she is vigorously involved in research and has contributed to more than 27 medical studies several of which are ongoing
it is hard to overstate the meaningful contributions that dr fleener has made within the medical community one nominator said her professional accolades help describe her hard work tenacity and determination when it comes to medical research and patient care
those accolades include the texas monthly texas super doctor rising star award in 2012 2013 and 2014 in addition to the texas monthly texas super doctor award in 2015 2016 2017 and 2018 fleener was named best oncologist by the best of brazos committee in 2017 and 2018
in addition to her professional work fleener remains involved in her community sharing her knowledge with student organizations such as the texas a&m premedical society and at conferences such as the surviving and thriving breast cancer conference which boasts more than 800 attendees in 2013 fleener was awarded the girl scouts of central texas woman of distinction award
it is rare to see such a compassionate and hard-working person with the leadership qualities that dr fleener possesses said one nominator i have no doubt that dr fleener will continue to positively influence texas a&m university the brazos valley community and those battling cancer throughout the world
fleener her husband greg crisp and their four children live in college station
after a short stint in a private practice in his hometown of cuero texas col steven t greiner answered the call of duty and following a family history of service has enjoyed a long and illustrious military career
greiner completed his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1996 after earning two bachelors degrees one in animal science in 1990 and another in veterinary medicine in 1993 and a master of veterinary public health all from texas a&m his education did not end after graduation however; in 2014 he received a master of strategic studies from the us army war college
today he serves as the 27th chief of the us army veterinary corps which plays a vital role in maintaining and sustaining the health of animals our service members and their families in our nations defense officers under greiners leadership play essential roles in food safety and security animal care and veterinary public health as well as research and development for our armed forces
col steven t greiner has brought great honor and national recognition to the cvmbs through his outstanding military career and distinguished service to our nation as a graduate doctor of veterinary medicine from our college one nominator said
throughout his decades of service greiner has been stationed throughout the united states in germany as commander of public health command europe and has been deployed to iraq afghanistan kenya jordan yemen and kuwait
i have witnessed first-hand his untiring commitment to educating veterinary students with up-to-date information regarding scholarship and career opportunities in military veterinary medicine and public service one nominator said
in his more than 20 years of service greiner has received numerous military awards and decorations including the legion of merit bronze star and meritorious service medals
through hard work dedication and commitment to excellence col greiner rose through the ranks and assumed increasing leadership roles and responsibilities during an era of the most intense combat deployments in the history of our armed forces another nominator said
greiners abilities as a leader and his skills as a veterinarian have provided many opportunities to advance his career and benefit others as he continues to concurrently serve as director of veterinary services for the us army medical command
throughout his career dr greiner has reflected well on texas a&m university and the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences one nominator said he has maintained the highest degree of integrity and demonstrates the aggie core values on a daily basis
greiner and wife deanna live in bulverde texas; they have four children
dr edward mcgruder has spent his career diving deeper and deeper into the world of animal health working to better the lives of animals from a molecular level
a lifelong aggie and a son and nephew of veterinarians mcgruder attended texas a&m university for his bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences doctor of veterinary medicine and phd in microbiology and immunology
his education has culminated to a career in pharmaceutical research and innovation including almost 23 collective years with elanco animal health during which he has focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical anti-infective and vaccine products that serve both companion animals and livestock
dr mcgruder is methodical in his research approach and does not cut corners said one nominator his work is thorough and his production is robust and excellent
this mindset is reflected in the breadth of ventures mcgruder has pursued in addition to his previous positions as advisor and chief medical officer at elanco he currently serves as global head of research and development and innovation on the executive team at argenta limited another animal health company
edward brings energy deep knowledge and leadership to argentas r&d business and our interactions with our customers said ben russell ceo of argenta his lifetime of experience in animal health from following his father into veterinary science to leading people at elanco and argenta brings value and perspective to our leadership team
mcgruder has previously served as president at prokaryon technologies an entrepreneurial portfolio company of baylor college of medicine and at fms ventures inc his involvement in the early development of these companies demonstrates his passion for discovering progressive solutions in the field of animal health
each of these important positions has made an incredible impact on veterinary medicine and the animal health industry and have led to a number of global product approvals in the united states and abroad one nominator said dr mcgruder has been integral to elancos continued success in the animal health sector making transformative moves and using innovation as a catalyst for change
in addition to his work as a leader in the animal health field mcgruder also gives his time generously to community organizations he served as an elder at abundant grace fellowship church chair of the tocqueville council for the united way of central indiana and chair of the texas a&m engineering experiment station (tees) advisory board among others
mcgruder encapsulates the aggie spirit demonstrating excellence in his leadership of the animal pharmaceutical field while practicing kindness and selfless service in his community his forward-thinking approach to pharmaceutical research has greatly benefitted the veterinary industry and will continue to do so for years to come
dr mcgruder distinguishes himself professionally and conveys great recognition to the cvmbs through his resolute dedication to the veterinary profession said one nominator he continues to make an impact on our college our university our state our nation and beyond
mcgruder and his wife patricia live in dallas; they have two sons
dr glenn rogers has worked tirelessly for more than 40 years to improve the veterinary profession from positions in private practice academia and industry
after attending texas a&m university for both his bachelor of science and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees rogers began his career as the owner of a mixed animal practice in his home town of graham later he built another practice in palo pinto county
in 1991 rogers left private practice to pursue a masters degree and residency in beef production medicine at kansas state university upon graduation he accepted a faculty position at the north carolina state university college of veterinary medicine quickly rising to the status of associate professor he became a diplomate in the american board of veterinary practitioners (beef cattle practice) in 1995
dr rogers became recognized as one of the most knowledgeable beef cattle herd health veterinarians in the united states one nominator said
after seven productive years in academia rodgers transitioned to industry most notably spending 12 years with pfizer animal health and eventually becoming a senior manager of beef veterinary operations
in this position rogers served as a major advocate for the beef partners in extension program a collaboration between pfizer and texas a&m that was calculated by extension service economists to benefit the state of texas $527 million a year
another significant product of rogers time in industry was a web-based tool he developed called the integrated herd health planner which improved how beef producers manage their herd vaccination records
in 2013 rogers left industry to return to palo pinto county to become a full-time rancher and operator of a beef heifer development business
this career change has allowed him to increase his community involvement and organized veterinary medicine including with the american association of bovine practitioners (aabp) as district director from 2006-2012 chair of the aabp foundation and recipient of the 2015 aabp distinguished service award in 2016 rogers was elected as vice president and served as aabp president in 2018-2019
rogers occasionally works as a veterinary consultant with a clientele that includes the superior livestock auctions the nations largest cattle auction
rogers received the 2017 texas conservation rancher of the year award and was named the 2018 academy of veterinary consultants consultant of the year
recently rogers took his dedication to public service to the next level winning election to the texas house of representatives to represent district 60
for four decades dr rogers has displayed the leadership selfless service discovery and innovation that are hallmarks of a distinguished alumnus of texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences one nominator said dr glenn rogers has been a selfless leader and innovator serving the cattle industry and veterinary medicine across the united states
rogers and his wife mandy moody dvm live in graford texas the couple has four children and five grandchildren
dr gordon pirie has cemented himself as a pillar of both his community and of the world of zoological medicine
graduating from texas a&m with both his bachelor of science in veterinary science and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees pirie went on to own baker animal hospital a domestic small animal and exotic pet veterinary service in the city of baker louisiana from 1972-2017
concurrently pirie became active in his service to the brec baton rouge zoo as a contract veterinarian through this work paired with his position as an adjunct assistant professor at the louisiana state university school of veterinary medicine pirie found a passion for teaching the next generation of veterinary students about exotic animal care he recently retired from both lsu and the zoo
dr gordon piries efforts and participation in the zoological medicine program at the lsu school of veterinary medicine is and will always be a cornerstone to our success said one nominator he has truly made a difference in veterinary medicine zoological medicine in particular and in his community
pirie also endeavors to improve the quality zoological animal care nationally through his work as an association of zoos and aquariums accreditation inspector other areas in which pirie has emerged as a leader include his former presidencies of the baton rouge area veterinary medical association the louisiana veterinary medical association the walter j ernst memorial veterinary foundation and more
his work as a scout master and century member in the boy scouts of america advisory board member of park ridge elementary school and ruling elder of west baton rouge presbyterian church also reflect this selfless attitude
dr gordon pirie is a fine man of faith a wonderful husband father and grandfather as well as an honored practitioner by his local and state veterinary associations one nominator said he is not only diligent in his quest toward great health care for his patients but is also creative and inventive when faced with unique exotic zoo case challenges
for his service to pets zoo animals and the human members of his community pirie has been named the louisiana veterinarian of the year in 1991 and the city of baker citizen of the year in 2001 as well as having been awarded keys to the city of baker presented by the mayor and city council in 2017 among other honors
dr gordon pirie is one of the staunch supporters of providing high quality compassionate veterinary medicine said one nominator the veterinary profession has had considerable benefit from his many years of leadership and service through local state and national veterinary medical organizations
pirie and his wife nanette live in baton rouge; they have four children and seven grandchildren
between his career volunteer efforts and personal interests dr clayton mccook has found many ways to help animals and people in oklahoma where he lives and beyond
mccook earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from texas a&m in 2009 after earning bachelors degrees in biology and spanish literature and language (2004) from texas christian university and the university of texas at arlington respectively and a masters degree in animal sciences (2005) at the university of connecticut
while mccook serves as an associate veterinarian in equine sports medicine and surgery at multiple racetracks in oklahoma his passion for emergency response also led him to create the nonprofit organization oklahoma large animal first responders (olafr) after witnessing the 2013 tornado outbreak in oklahoma city
as the current president of olafr he helps provide urgent care triage and evacuation for large animals during both natural and manmade disasters while also bridging the gap between private citizens and federal state and local agencies
there is nobody i know who has given more to a community and surrounding areas than dr mccook in his desire to help those in need one nominator said he is an amazing veterinarian a leader and a tireless volunteer in order to help others
mccooks volunteer work with olafr extends beyond oklahoma as well; he deployed to help animals in houston after hurricane harvey and has lectured on disaster preparedness at veterinary conferences across the country
finally after his daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mccook dedicated much of his remaining free time to advocating for those with the disease and the need for improved treatment options
dr mccook has become a tireless advocate for patients of this chronic disease using his medical background and altruistic spirit to educate policy makers at all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle on the day-to-day realities of dealing with this medical reality another nominator said his indefatigable efforts to care for his daughter and those with similar life-threatening non-communicable lifelong illnesses have led him all the way to speak at hearings at the united nations general assembly
by working with organizations like the juvenile diabetes research foundation and the nightscout project which developed bluetooth-enabled insulin pump monitoring software mccook is actively involved in keeping insulin accessible for all patients and improving type 1 diabetes management
despite his being so active and in the forefront of so many fields he remains a most humble and self-deprecating person invariably attempting to pass on the source of some success to one of his peers or another team-member another nominator said i never cease to be impressed at how he finds time to help and educate others in so many different ways in addition to his veterinary practice activities
mccook currently lives in edmond oklahoma with his wife cindy and his two daughters
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when the covid-19 pandemic first began scientists were faced with a serious challengehow to educate the general public on a disease that they themselves knew so little about during the past year however science has made great advances in its knowledge of the sars-cov-2 virus that causes covid-19 even to the point of developing multiple vaccines
unfortunately misinformation has been a trend since even before the pandemic officially began this is why the texas a&m superfund research center and texas a&m university school of public health recently partnered to present a series of community webinars on covid-19 and vaccinations during which experts from multiple fields explained the science behind the virus and vaccines for those without a science background and for whom english might not be their first language
approximately 200 high school students and local community members attended each of the two health equity & action: demystifying covid-19 & vaccinations webinars offered on march 9 and march 10 2021
speakers included research assistant professor dr garett sansom and instructional assistant professor dr angela clendenin from the school of public health; college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) professor dr weihsueh chiu; professor of biology and global health research complex chief virologist dr benjamin neuman; and university professor dr ivan rusyn
throughout both webinars graduate students ruby hernandez from school of public health and alina roman-hubers from the toxicology graduate program served as live english-spanish translators
the first presentation focused on demystifying covid-19 and covered a general overview of what we now know about the disease and the inequities the pandemic has revealed in our communities this discussion was led by clendenin on march 9 and chiu on march 10
we have learned so much in one year thanks to many thousands of scientists and doctors around the world chiu said unfortunately covid-19 has also revealed and made worse many inequities in our country people of color are more likely to get sick and more likely to die from covid-19
he stressed the important role vaccines will play in addressing these inequities and in the overall effort to overcome the virus
misconceptions about the covid-19 vaccines are causing many people to avoid vaccination to address these misconceptions and explain how the vaccines work the second presentation focused on the sars-cov-2 variants and vaccines led by neuman on march 9 and rusyn on march 10
learning about vaccines from expert scientists will be vital in increasing the general publics trust in covid-19 vaccination for example many of the webinar attendees expressed excitement about getting to learn about the virus and vaccines directly from neuman who has been involved in coronavirus research since 1996
regardless of the type of vaccine that you may be able to get please be assured that they all have been rigorously tested and are highly effective rusyn said we should have as many people vaccinated as possible quickly to prevent severe disease and death and to stop the spread of the virus
this event was made possible by support from two of texas a&ms community partners the texas environmental justice advocacy services (tejas) and furr high school located in a largely hispanic community in houston
the webinars began with a welcome from a furr high school student and an introduction from sansom who played a key role in organizing the event using his connections to houston community partners and concluded with a q&a session to answer student questions and closing remarks from sansom and college of architecture associate professor and superfund center community engagement leader dr galen newman
plans are being developed to hold similar webinars in the near future with other community partners in houston future events open to the public will be announced on the superfund centers facebook and twitter pages
usually when we share new knowledge that new information actually leads to more questions and i hope that is where we find ourselves today clendenin said become consumers of information but be informed about where you get it if i have done my job today hopefully each of you will feel empowered to do the right thing to be texans helping texans to engage in behaviors that continue to protect our families our friends and our neighbors so that each person lost to this pandemic will not have passed in vain
this event took place as part of the superfund centers community engagement core which focuses on youth engagement to foster the development of the next generation of environmental health scientists and advocates newman serves as the principle investigator for this core and sansom serves as a co-investigator
a full recording of the march 10 webinar is available on the cvmbs youtube channel
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
lilly is more than just our dog shes more than just our family member shes changed my childs life and made it so much better said laura deming a physicians assistant and navy veteran from houston
lilly a 10-year-old black lab joined the deming family in 2011 as a trained assistance dog for demings son beau who has autism and a history of seizures
she makes sure hes safe and keeps him calm when hes nervous deming said theyve grown up together and shes a good companion for him because he doesnt speak very well she just always stays with him and takes care of him
lilly is almost constantly at beaus side the only time she isnt by his side is while beau is at school and lilly can be found eagerly waiting at the school bus stop each afternoon shes even a member of beaus special needs cheerleading team and is assigned her own uniform so she can join the kids out on the floor
because lilly is so much more than a pet to beau deming was immediately concerned when she felt an odd tightness in lillys chest in november 2019 their local veterinarian didnt think it was worth worrying over but deming decided to seek a second opinion
it just didnt feel right to me she said a new vet opened up a practice in our town and since the first exam was free i took her over he immediately said ‘this is not good
the doctor diagnosed lilly with a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma in her chest a form of cancer that is common in dogs and in lillys case was growing at a very rapid rate he performed an initial surgery that same day to remove the bulk of the tumor and suggested deming find a specialist to provide further treatment
although deming had no history with texas a&m she recalled a friend telling her about the veterinary specialists at texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and decided to make the drive to the small animal hospital (sah) in college station
there lilly underwent a second surgery in january 2020 to remove the remaining sarcoma cells surrounding the site of the tumor followed by six doses of chemotherapy spread out over 18 weeks to kill any remaining traces of the cancer
in november 2020 a year after lillys initial diagnosis she was finally cancer free
shes done really well and the fact that shes made it to a year is a big milestone said dr heather wilson-robles the dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) i think her prognosis is certainly trending in the right direction at this point each time we check her and shes clean it gets better and better
thanks to the gary sinise foundation veterinary valor fund the sah was also able to cover a portion of demings bill for lillys care
one day i was wearing a folds of honor (an organization that provides scholarships to spouses and children of americas fallen and disabled service members) shirt and someone at the hospital asked if i was in the military and when i said ‘yes she said they would be able to help me especially since lilly is a service dog for a special needs child deming said
we are so grateful she said im a single mother with two kids one with special needs i just cant say how grateful we are that a&m is blessed enough to have the sinise fund
besides follow-up visits to the sah every three months lillys life is back to normal and she is feeling great according to deming
lilly is an amazing dog so smart and so incredible deming said shes such a great service dog and a great help when it comes to caring for my son it was really hard for him when she was gone for treatment but all is good now and lily is back to normal
lilly would not be here now taking care of my son if it wasnt for a&m she said we can never be thankful enough for all of the help we got
the gary sinise foundation veterinary valor fund accepts donations online from other donors for more information please contact larry walker senior director of development for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at lwalker@txamfoundationcom or by phone at 9798459043 give online at http://giveam/garysinisevetvalor
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2021 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an international team of researchers including dr leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and minal jamsandekar a phd student in the cvmbs biomedical sciences program have used whole genome sequencing to document 53 herring populations from the atlantic ocean and the baltic sea
these data could be used to help set fishing quotas that allow for the sustainable harvesting of genetically defined stocks
current methods are limited to phenotypic data and very few genetic markers jamsandekar said this leads to misclassification of herring populations occasionally and leads to overexploitation
this research identifies genetic markers that make it possible to better monitor herring populations and avoid overfishing it is particularly relevant for andersson who holds a dual professorship with the cvmbs and uppsala university in sweden where herring are a common protein source in the scandinavian diet
the atlantic herring is one of the most abundant vertebrates on earth and is an important food resource for other fish seabirds and sea mammals like the fin whale the atlantic herring has been an important food resource for humans since the colonization of northern europe many thousands of years ago
overexploitation of herring populations severely affects both economics and environment jamsandekar said the most abundant norwegian spring-spawning herring stock collapsed in the late 1960s due to overexploitation pacific herring stocks in puget sound in washington state plummeted 92% from 1973-2012 due to water pollution and infection
these changes disturb the zooplankton on which herring feed and the larger birds and fish that prey upon herring leading to ecological imbalance jamsandekar said overfishing of herring populations also has adverse effects on the development and growth of many countries as herring fishery is critical to the european economy as well as to the economies of some coastal regions in the united states like maine and new england
herring are a schooling fish meaning they migrate in schools where they feed spawn and cohabitate in groups of up to an estimated four billion fish because of this they can be caught in fishing nets by the ton and are susceptible to overfishing
in the past several stocks of herring have collapsed due to overfishing
this study published in elife will help secure atlantic herring as a food resource by identifying clear genetic differences that allow scientists to distinguish between all major stocks of atlantic herring this allows scientists to track when and where different stocks spawn and track the populations when they are mixed on shared feeding grounds
the gene variants identified are composed of a few hundred genes related to genetic adaption for environmental factors such as spawning season salinity and water temperature at spawning
since some of these gene variants are strongly associated with water temperature at spawning they may also help scientist predict how global warming will affect fish populations the prediction is that gene variants common in the southern part of the species distribution will become more common in northern populations
particularly now with rapid climate change the rate of extinction is increasing for species that have been around for millions of years on this planet jamsandekar said a recent study about the extinction of passenger pigeons indicates that even species with huge populations are not safe in todays world; hence understanding the genetic basis of different populations in species and finding ways to protect them is much needed than ever before
characterizing the genetic makeup of atlantic herring will help to secure their future as a viable food resource for humans and other marine animals as a historically overexploited resource informed interventions that prevent the overfishing of these animals are invaluable tools to ensure sustainable exploitation of this fish which is a must at a scandinavian christmas dinner
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
after almost four years serving as department head of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) large animal clinical sciences department (vlcs) dr susan eades has been appointed cvmbs associate dean for administration canyon campus
eades will begin her new role which oversees the colleges veterinary education research & outreach (vero) efforts on march 1
dr eades has served with distinction in her administrative and faculty roles since joining our college in 2017 from louisiana state university (lsu) she is deeply committed to our evolving role in the texas panhandle and to our ability to impact delivery of high-quality veterinary care to rural communities said dr john august cvmbs dean our educational research and outreach programs in canyon are of critical importance to the production animal industries and people of the panhandle and high plains
dr eades will join an existing group of outstanding faculty and staff in canyon and she will work closely with our department heads in college station to support our faculty and staff who are located on that campus he said
eades brings with her more than three decades of experience in higher education veterinary medicine and almost two years of experience serving as interim assistant dean for hospital operations at the cvmbs veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
she said she became excited about the vero program which is housed at west texas a&m university (wt) even before she came to texas a&m
i am amazed at the work of the vero faculty to recruit teach and mentor students and to lay the groundwork for a research program like no other these faculty have already had a beneficial impact on the panhandle region and have positioned the program for long-term success eades said
i am excited to help with this effort and take full advantage of the opportunities to recruit students into rural and large animal veterinary practice from the west texas region; to provide real-life experiences at feedlots dairies and rural veterinary practices; and to give veterinary graduates the skills needed for rural and production animal practice that are not available at most veterinary schools she said
in her role eades also will oversee the final stages of preparation as the cvmbs enrolls the inaugural cohort of 18 students into its 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program at vero this fall getting that program off the ground will be among eades top priorities
i hope to help the faculty of the cvmbs both at the vero campus in canyon and in college station successfully launch the 2+2 program she said we will create a cohort of students who work as a team to master the material and skills presented in the first- and second-year veterinary curriculum and then integrate them into the cohort of students in college station for their third year of veterinary program
i am amazed at the work of the vero faculty to recruit teach and mentor students and to lay the groundwork for a research program like no other
we will continue to increase the number of students in the fourth-year rotations (which began may 2020 and allow veterinary students on clinical rotations to gain experience at feedlots producer operations and with rural practices in the region) eades continued we also will expand the research program with additional faculty and graduate students
august said that eades work at texas a&m and in her former roles has well-equipped her as she works with faculty staff and students at vero
dr eades administrative experience will be invaluable in canyon at a time of rapid expansion of our faculty on that campus in preparation for the start of our dvm 2+2 program in the fall as well as for the continued development of partnerships with colleagues at west texas a&m university and with food animal industry leaders in the region he said
an oklahoma native eades completed her dvm from lsu in 1982 an internal medicine residency at the university of pennsylvania new bolton center in 1985 and her phd in veterinary physiology and pharmacology from the university of georgia in 1988
but she said that in some ways moving to canyon will be like returning home because her family had settled in the texas panhandle and southwest corner of oklahoma in the late 1800s
i have been attracted to the wide-open spaces of the plains ever since my visits there in my youth she said i look forward to being part of the community there and contributing to the educational programs at west texas a&m university and the cvmbs vero program
she is also looking forward to leading the vero team within its new $22-million 22 000-square-foot facility which opened last september
we are fortunate to have received support from texas a&m for the program and the beautiful facility this entire program is a tremendous opportunity; the skill and teamwork of the faculty that we have is a formula for success eades said we have a very exciting future ahead of us i just want to help the vero faculty accomplish their objectives and be successful; this will make the entire program successful
dr wesley bissett associate professor and director of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team has been named interim department head also effective march 1
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a novel testing method and a first-of-its-kind treatment are at the center of two new national institutes of health (nih) research project grants recently awarded to dr jayanth ramadoss associate professor and director of the perinatal research laboratory in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp)
the grants total almost $4 million and will continue ramadoss research efforts to improve the health of children
this kind of research is so important for example weve known about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (fasd) since the 1970s and there are still no approved medicines specifically to treat it ramadoss said these grants show that we have made good progress in these efforts
the research funded by the first nih grant focuses on identifying specific alcohol target pathways that cause fasd which could provide critical insight for the development of treatments
we have observed a unique interaction of alcohol with a compound that shows it might have the possibility to prevent some of these effects from occurring in children he said
according to ramadoss the main outcome of fasd which is more common than autism is impairments in behavioral and social interactions; while it carries a societal cost of an estimated $14 billion annually that cost is mostly hidden
the stigma and fear of judgement is a major barrier to treat fasd he said as a society it would be better to reduce the stigma while discussing fasd
while at least the neuroanatomic and behavioral consequences of fetal exposure to alcohol have been known for some time treatment options remain largely in the form of medicines approved for some fasd symptoms
the estimated number of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders has unfortunately not declined in the us for decades with as many as 5% of school-going children believed to be affected he said
in addition to alcohol ramadoss is also studying the possible risks of vaping during pregnancy
one of the reasons that research is behind societys use of e-cigarettes is that many laboratory testing methods arent good models for the actual vaping patterns these methods can involve a drinkable liquid or injections of the vaping liquid but ramadoss said that a novel testing method developed in his lab could lead to answers
were using an atomizer identical to the ones in e-cigarettes used worldwide to create a custom engineered vaping system he said we are trying to mimic exactly whats happening in human vaping
compared to drinking where the risks are known very little is understood about the risks of vaping during pregnancy
people have a feeling that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes but we know these e-cigarettes also contain carcinogenic chemicals maybe not as many but theyre there ramadoss said
vaping has not been endorsed by the world health organization (who) as a safer smoking alternative and some adverse effects have already been studied that hasnt slowed the spread of its usage though and in 2016 the united states surgeon general announced that vaping was a major health concern
as little is known about vaping during pregnancy basically nothing is known about the effects on children of being around someone who is vaping scientists call this e-cigarette version of second-hand smoking environmental vaping and ramadoss hopes his research will shed some light on the issue
we know if youre in a room with someone whos vaping that youre breathing in that same vapor he said is that safe we dont know hopefully this study can help provide some of that information
alcohol and nicotine are often comorbidities so ramadoss said it made sense to expand his research focus to include e-cigarettes
both the us food & drug administration (fda) and centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) are interested in finding answers to many questions related to e-cigarettes he said what are the thresholds is it safe there are so many questions that we havent been able to answer yet and i think our study is going to get some of the answers
his receiving these grants even while budgets are tight because of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic show the importance of these research areas
these grants are very hard to get especially during difficult times he said but that shows how important this is to the nih
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contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr stacy eckman a clinical associate professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) has been appointed associate dean of hospital operations for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
in this position eckman will work closely with vmth faculty and staff to deliver state-of-the-art healthcare to veterinary patients; support the hospitals clinical trials telehealth and one health missions; and foster an environment that values teaching she will also serve on the cvmbs executive committee and chair the vmth hospital board
humbled and honored do not even begin to express my feelings for this position eckman said i did not come to the vmth looking for this position but over time and the longer i have been here i see this as a place to make a huge impact i have a deep commitment to patients clients teaching and texas a&m and i look forward to continuing that commitment in my new role
our main goal at the vmth is to build on the tradition of excellence we already have regarding patient care and service to clients and referring veterinarians as well as continuing to build on our reputation as innovative researchers she said as the only veterinary school in texas with a teaching hospital it is important that the vmth continues to enhance and balance the clinical year for training fourth-year veterinary students preparing to enter the profession and specialty training for residents and interns
eckman earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from texas a&m in 2001 and after eight years in small animal private practice returned as a faculty member in 2009
since joining the vmth eckman has cared for patients and taught fourth-year veterinary students interns and residents in the primary care and emergency medicine services in addition she has devoted many hours to teaching preclinical veterinary courses
eckman also served as the designated veterinarian for texas a&ms mascot reveille for many yearsa position she considers one of the true highlights of her professional career
in 2017 eckman was named the first chief medical officer of the small animal hospital a position created to help lead encourage and implement innovations and process improvements this experience in addition to her vast expertise in animal care and passion for teaching will pave the way for success in her new position as associate dean
beyond the cvmbs eckman also serves as the chair of the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) primary care veterinary educators group which works to advance and inspire primary care education in veterinary teaching hospitals
dr eckmans leadership has been demonstrated on many fronts including service on professional departmental college and university committees said cvmbs dean dr john august most recently she has played an integral role in vmth operations as the college has navigated teaching patient care research and service activities during the pandemic my very sincere thanks go to dr eckman for accepting this important responsibility at a particularly challenging time
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
paula plummer knows firsthand what having a pet with cancer looks like for the last 14 years plummer has been a licensed veterinary technician in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and for three of those years she has been a dedicated member of the surgical oncology team
but in 2020 plummer experienced pet cancer on a much more personal level when her dog ramsie an 11-year-old australian cattle dog woke her up on christmas eve morning with severe vomiting
at first plummer didnt have cancer on her list of possible causes instead she worried that ramsie had a neurologic issue or a bowel obstruction and she rushed her beloved companion to the vmth for emergency help
i was thinking of every possible scenario she could have been in plummer said we took radiographs but there was nothing we could see except that she was dehydrated and constipated
plummer left ramsie at the vmth for more tests and received a call shortly thereafter that the clinicians had found a lytic lesion on her right femur
i knew instantly that it was cancer plummer said
from that point forward plummers oncology family rallied around her to get ramsie the help she needed
they concluded that the vomiting ramsie had experienced was the result of such severe pain that she was too uncomfortable to go to the bathroom
it was pretty amazing to me that dr emma warry looked at all the pieces of information and was able to complete the puzzle plummer said
once the clinicians determined that ramsie had osteosarcoma (a tumor of the bone) they developed a treatment plan and helped eliminate some of ramsies pain in the short-term as a long-term plan however she would need to have her right hind limb amputated
plummer had planned to wait until ramsie stabilized more to get her the surgery she needed but on new years eve ramsie became profoundly lame in her hind limb and plummer realized her leg was broken
i called dr heather wilson-robles (in oncology) and told her what i was seeing and she made arrangements to meet me at the clinic in a torrential downpour where they confirmed the break plummer said because it was a holiday most people were off so all these teams had to be called in for emergency surgery and they were able to amputate the limb
while i was waiting dr robles told me they were going to give me funds from the petco foundation and blue buffalo to help with everything plummer said i knew that we had these amazing funds because ive seen so many clients get to benefit from them but never in a million years did i think that they would offer funds to me
plummer said the support from the petco foundation and its partner blue buffalo was an instant relief to her family
i was still processing everything that happened with ramsie and also had to come to terms with the financial piece so i just started to cry plummer said it was such a huge relief knowing that my husband and i didnt have to pay for the full surgery out of pocket
three weeks after surgery ramsie is now back to living her best life
plummer said with a smile shes completely healed and back to chasing the horses at the fence like she always has!
for the oncology team at the vmth the petco foundation funds continue to be a wonderful source of support to the clients about whom they so deeply care
being able to have these funds to offer to so many clients is incredible wilson-robles said but it was extra special to be able to help one of our own oncology family members through this very generous grant paula is always there for our clients as they navigate their own pets cancer treatments and it was important to us to give her the support she so deserved when her own pet received this difficult diagnosis
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team of researchers led by dr ivan rusyn a university professor in the veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) department at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has found that some energy drinks have adverse effects on human cardiomyocyte-like cells or the muscle cells of the heart
in the study published in food and chemical toxicology researchers observed that human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (human heart cells grown in a laboratory) exposed to some energy drinks exhibited an increased beat rate and impaired ion channel function which is critical to many aspects of cardiac function these human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes allow researchers to observe the cardiac effects of energy drinks under controlled conditions outside of the human body
when placed in the context of the human body consumption of these beverages has been linked to ventricular and atrial arrhythmias (improper beating of the heart) cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood) increased blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions
with the global sales of energy drinks estimated at $53 billion in 2018 and rapidly growing it is important to understand the potential unintended health consequences associated with these beverages according to rusyn
because the consumption of these beverages is not regulated and they are widely accessible over the counter to all age groups the potential for adverse health effects of these products is a subject of concern and needed research rusyn said indeed the consumption of energy drinks has been associated with a wide range of adverse health effects in humans many of them are concerning the effects on the heart
researchers evaluated 17 widely available over-the-counter brands they then treated cardiomyocytes with each drink and recorded data on beat rate ion channel function and cytotoxicity
researchers also studied the composition of the energy drinks using novel methods by comparing the effects and differing ingredient concentrations in each drink they were able to infer which ingredients may be contributing more to adverse effects on the treated cardiomyocytes using mathematical models researchers determined that potential common ingredients responsible for these negative effects include theophylline adenine and azelate
little is known about the ingredients that may contribute to the adverse effects of energy drinks on the heart rusyn said specifically the evidence for cardiovascular effects from studies in humans remains inconclusive as the controlled clinical trials were largely limited in the number of participants tested only a limited number of energy drink types and are difficult to compare directly because they employed different methods to evaluate the function of the cardiovascular system
further research is warranted on the ingredients identified in this study to ensure the safety of their consumption especially by consumers with pre-existing health conditions
this study shows that some of the tested energy drinks may have effects on human cardiomyocytes; these data corroborate other studies in humans rusyn said therefore we hope that the consumers will carefully weigh the purported ergogenic (performance-enhancing) benefits of these beverages versus the emerging data that suggests that they may have real adverse effects
we also hope that the food and drug administration takes a closer look at whether these beverages may need to be carefully reviewed with respect to possible labeling of their adverse health effects and whether certain age groups and susceptible sub-populations should be advised against consumption of these beverages
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
rorys case was a double whammy for being first-of-a-kind in veterinary medicine said dr melissa andruzzi the veterinary chief resident at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
first the 6-year-old boxer was infected by a rare form of salmonella that has never before seen in a dog and second her salmonella infection was the first to be found in a dogs brain
rorys story begins long before her infection however; she first became a vmth patient when she was diagnosed with a common but serious form of meningitis at only 1 year old
during her first visit to the vmth in 2015 rory was diagnosed with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (srma) an immune-mediated inflammatory disease common in boxers that can cause neck pain and fever
id never even heard of srma and didnt know anything about it said rorys owner janelle overhouse once i learned more i found that it was something that could be chronic that was really scary because she was in a tremendous amount of pain
luckily rorys form of srma could be treated with a few months of immunosuppressive steroids that when finished allow the dog to return to a completely normal life while srma tends to repeatedly flare up over the years it can usually be treated the same way with minimal complications
for some patients however the immunosuppressed state during treatment can cause its own problems such as when dealing with infections that could normally be fought off by a healthy immune system this was the case when it came to rorys unique infection
in late 2019 rory was undergoing the final months of treatment for her first srma relapse when she began to show unusual symptoms
rory came back to the vmth because she had some issues that didnt really fit srma andruzzi said she had seizures and her behavior was very different shes normally a really happy-go-lucky kind of dog who loves everyone and wants to lick everyone but now she was afraid of people and a little bit aggressive toward people she didnt know it was just very different for her
working with veterinary neurologist dr beth boudreau a cvmbs assistant professor andruzzi scheduled an mri for rory and noticed that her brain looked abnormal in some places another issue not connected to srma she then extracted a sample of spinal fluid and sent it to cvmbs associate professor dr sara lawhon and graduate assistant mary krath at the vmths clinical microbiology lab who found the presence of the salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae
it was really interesting because we have never cultured that species of salmonella in a dog before andruzzi said even more interesting is that in all of the veterinary literature there has never been a report of salmonella regardless of the particular species of salmonella in the central nervous system of a dog
the infection was likely a ‘bacteremia meaning it had spread in her blood and had access to her whole body she said the reason her central nervous system was particularly affected is because its natural barrier (the blood brain barrier) was already compromised from her srma allowing easy access for the salmonella
despite the novel aspects of rorys case she was treated much like any other patient with a serious infectionwith several months of antibiotics thankfully rorys srma was fully cleared by the time she began her salmonella treatments allowing her to stop taking the immunosuppressant steroids and fight the infection with her full immune system
it was a long process but rory tolerated many months of antibiotics very well and ms overhouse was so diligent with her care andruzzi said
in veterinary and human medicine antibiotic resistance is becoming a huge problem she continued every time rory came in we would do a urine culture grow the salmonella and then check a sensitivity panel to test it against a bunch of antibiotics and make sure that there was no resistance developing
once rory was back on the road to full health only one question remainedhow did she become the first dog to contract that form of salmonella
after talking to overhouse andruzzi came to the conclusion that wild geckos in her backyard might have been the source of the infection
this form of salmonella is most commonly identified in reptiles and amphibians and more than 90% of reptiles are asymptomatic carriers they contaminate whatever environment theyre in andruzzi said rory very commonly interacted with these little geckos outside and in the garage so while we dont know for sure we think it probably came from that
while the bacteria passed on from these geckos would normally be weak enough that rorys body and that of other healthy and immunocompetent dogs could fight it off easily her srma treatment suppressed her immune system enough at just the right moment for the infection to take hold
even after rory went home healthy and happy the work was not done for andruzzi and her coworkers
after we had treated her so successfully we thought it was very important to write her case up so that if anyone else saw this type of salmonella in a dog or any other salmonella in a dogs brain or spinal cord they at least would have rorys case to read about and see how we treated her andruzzi said we needed to contribute this knowledge so that other veterinarians can treat other pets just as well
their case report salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae as an opportunistic pathogen in a case of meningoencephalomyelitis and bacteriuria in a dog was published in the biomed central veterinary research journal in november 2020 to serve as a reference point for any future veterinarians seeing a case like rorys
but for overhouse the joy from finally seeing her dog healthy outshines all other positive aspects of rorys case
rorys doing really well now you wouldnt know anything happened to her overhouse said her veterinary team was great; they seemed to really listen and they were all very caring i feel like they really had her best interests at heart and i appreciated that very much
ive not had many other kinds of dogs besides boxers so i know theyre very people oriented rory follows me everywhere i go she said she is definitely connected to me and i to her im always looking out for her
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
allie folcik a fourth-year phd student in the toxicology program at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has had an interest in science for as long as she can remember recalling that she was dead-set on becoming an astronaut from an early age
although her interests have since skewed to the terrestrial with a passion for environmental science and sustainability she hopes to foster a similar fascination toward the natural world in other young women through her blog the pretty phd
for folcik this blog became a release from current events and her rigorous academic program when the pandemic swung into full force in the united states last year
when covid hit i was looking for a creative outlet because i was so heavily involved in all of my technical work for my phd i really wanted to start something that would give me a more artistic outlet folcik said i play guitar and i used to create ceramic pottery so there was always that artistic side of me
she began blogging on her site the pretty phd covering everything from modern-day coupon clipping to harmful algal blooms
i wanted to somehow bridge all of the science i do on a regular basis thats such a big part of who i am and other things that im interested in like fashion beauty and different lifestyle topics she said
in light of the pandemic she has also included content that explains aspects of the covid-19 outbreak in an understandable and engaging way to the general public
including both lifestyle and scientific content was important to folcik who says that multifaced interests are what makes a person unique rather than being confined by a single identity she says that women should be empowered to embrace whatever interests them
my blog is about showing women and girls that you can do whatever you want and there are no boundaries to what defines you she said im someone who loves a lot of different things im an ice hockey player im an artist (and) im a scientist you can do what you want and you can still have a social life; you can follow your passions and still be really smart
smart is an understatement for folcik who has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a minor in sustainability from the florida institute of technology she is currently in her fourth year of her phd in toxicology studying novel methods for mitigating harmful algal blooms in drinking water
harmful algal blooms occur when colonies of algae a type of aquatic plant grow out of control and dominate their ecosystem at the expense of other species depending on the type of algae they can deplete the oxygen levels of a body of water clog the gills of fish contaminate drinking water and more
when harmful algal blooms occur in a lake or a source of water they produce toxins that can get into drinking water she said if theyre not treated effectively they can lead to public health issues down the road were using a technology called electron beam to hopefully show that we can break down both the toxins and inactivate the cyanobacteria that are responsible for producing them
in addition to her academic pursuits folcik has also worked part-time with an environmental consulting firm for the past three years she began the position as an intern but remained onboard to continue assisting with remediation and hazardous waste management through a one health approach that benefits both humans and the environment
im interested in natural disaster cleanup especially taking the environmental consulting route and working on a case-by-case basis would be really interesting to me she said there are people in these companies who are needed to explain what we do from the risk assessment side and the science side to both the public and the client i think doing the blog has really helped me see that thats the area i want to really focus on instead of just the technical work
folcik has also extended her outreach efforts to the real world meeting with high school students and giving presentations on women in stem these efforts have ranged from speaking with high school students in chicago to a remote presentation in dubai she says she hopes to expose students to the world of academia in a more accessible way
i wish i had this exposure when i was in middle school or in high school to know that there are people who dont get just funneled into academia and you never see them again she said i want to empower younger women to know that they have a place in stem and that they have the full ability to get to wherever they want to be in their career
her presentations and blog posts cover scientific topics in contexts that show how science is applicable to everyday life and products folcik hopes that this will not only make science more attractive to her audience but will also underscore its utility
for instance when i got my hair dyed i wrote a blog article about how hair dye works how it changes or how it stays in your hair and how the shaft opens she said if people can see that there are interesting ways to think about science i hope that they see that its not something thats scary
in light of the covid-19 pandemic she has also taken on the role of educator in both her personal circles and on her blog folcik says that much of the communication she has seen regarding covid-19 is not written in a way accessible to the general reader
i did a lot of covid articles explaining topics such as viruses vs bacteria and mask wearing she said if anything the whole pandemic just highlights how poor our science communication is because ive talked to plenty of friends and family who are not in the sciences who just feel so lost and so confused with whats being put out and why things are being put out im in a position where im able to translate that information into something other people can hopefully understand
folcik is motivated by the attention her presentations and blogs have received and is hopeful that her work is making an impact in addition to posting regularly on her blog folciks instagram account has over 3 000 followers that engage regularly through series like toxtalkstuesday
its awesome im so glad that its growing because it validates that other people see value in both what im sharing and how i feel because it is something im passionate about she said
when asked what advice she wished she had received when she was younger folcik had two messages
the first would be that i was always afraid to try too many different things because as an 18-year-old undergrad you feel you have to pick a major and map out your life she said i just wish someone had told me ‘do as many things as you want until you find the thing you like because thats the only way that youre going to be happy in your career
the second piece of advice i wish i had gotten is that especially going through my phd from a mental health standpoint i think we need to be so much more open to conversation and to working on ourselves as we go through our schooling and careers its ok to seek out help and its ok to spend time not only working on your academic profile but also on your personal well-being
this insight is consistent with folciks larger philosophy that people are mosaics of many interweaving interests and experiences; when we embrace the traits that make us unique even if they dont at first seem to overlap we are better equipped to enrich the world around us
in the end youre a human being and you have your productivity and what your output is but you also have an emotional side of you she said focusing on all the different aspects of you is so important in your life development
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr michael criscitiello a comparative immunologist and professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) has been appointed associate dean for research & graduate studies at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs)
criscitiello who previously served as the assistant dean for research & graduate studies has been a cvmbs faculty member since 2008 and leads the colleges comparative immunogenetics laboratory
dr criscitiello and i share strong interests in exploring new collaborative opportunities among our faculty in the basic and clinical sciences and with colleagues in the broader university community said dr john r august cvmbs dean i would like to thank dr criscitiello for accepting this position and i am very optimistic that our college will achieve a strong trajectory in our research and graduate programs under his leadership
as criscitiello begins his new position he is optimistic about the future of research and graduate studies at the college largely because of the progress his predecessor dr robert burghardt has made over the past several years
i would like to continue the upward trajectory that dr burghardt has set in place he established the colleges biomedical sciences graduate program and we want to keep strengthening that criscitiello said i think were doing well in graduate studies so research is where i want to increase our focus and look for ways to maintain the texas a&m veterinary schools prominence
one of criscitiellos priorities as associate dean will be increasing the cvmbs research collaborations with other colleges at texas a&m and external partners
something that will be a focus is trying to find ways to bring basic and clinical scientists together within the veterinary school and also with other entities at texas a&m such as the medical school and college of engineering criscitiello said
im just really really excited because we have terrific senior faculty staff veterinary students undergrads graduate students and post-docs in the labs he said i think the future is bright with our recent hires and im excited to see what we can do together and with other terrific scientists around the world
one of the new aspects of criscitiellos role will be working with texas a&ms recently established graduate and professional school which was created to elevate graduate and professional education at the university
the new grad school is going to be value added for philanthropy development and getting high-caliber students who might not have thought about texas a&m for grad school he said the school is going to be the provider of lots of terrific programs
in addition to his new administrative position criscitiello is planning to continue his work in the classroom and his comparative immunogenetics lab
criscitiellos lab leads studies in immunology molecular genetics and evolution his work focuses on the evolution of the vertebrate adaptive immune system including its genesis subsequent natural history and trajectory into the future
some of his current projects include studying the thymus and immune system of nurse sharks the relationship between the immune system and genetics in marine mammals and the development of new treatment strategies for hiv and triple-negative breast cancer from cattle antibodies
training and mentoring the next generation of researchers is an important goal for criscitiello both inside and outside of the lab he has trained veterinary students high school students post-doctoral fellows visiting national and international scholars and one high school teacher
the older i get the more i realize how lucky i was that i bumped into really good people who were quietly mentoring me and nudging me away from problems and into good directions criscitiello said i dont think that necessarily happens organically but it can be taught and groomed we have terrific mentors here and i want those mentors to keep training other mentors and for us all to keep learning i think that culture needs to be nurtured and developed
its a good time to be a scientist he said we need to keep the pipeline of terrific young minds primed so we can solve problems and im looking forward to keeping the cvmbs at the forefront of that
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr heather wilson-robles and the oncology service at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) have received a second grant of $75 000 from the petco foundation that will financially assist owners with their pets cancer treatments
the pet cancer treatment grant supported by the blue buffalo foundation for cancer research inc provides support for the treatment for domestic companion animals suffering from cancer to pet parents of modest means or to pet parents whose pets have provided a service to others
the vmth oncology service received its first $200 000 pet cancer treatment grant in 2019 texas a&m was one of 11 universities to be awarded an additional grant for 2021
the funds provided through the renewal grant will be used to offset the cost of cancer treatment for qualifying owners who are seeking treatment for their pet at the vmth
in our everyday work research is important and yes teaching is our mission but the clients are why we get out of bed every dayto come in and see these cases and treat cancer said wilson-robles professor and dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology we are so fortunate to have been able to help 91 animals through the initial grant and we know this support has made a big difference to those families
owners cannot always afford treatment so having these supplementary funds in some cases helps owners to not have to make a choice about what they can doit allows them to treat their animal when they otherwise wouldnt be able to its huge for them she said for us this grant has allowed us to do a lot more for our clients and the renewal of the grant will allow us to help even more patients in the future
the petco foundation makes grant investments in organizations that work to make the most significant impact possible with the support provided by the petco foundation the foundation desires to support and encourage the work of those organizations that work together in an effort to create a nation where no animal is needlessly euthanized where domestic animals can be trained to provide service to people and organizations in need and where all domestic animals can be healthy and find lifelong homes and lifesaving medical care
as the only veterinary hospital in texas to offer an integrated oncology service the vmths oncology service provides cutting-edge comprehensive cancer care offering medical radiation and surgical oncologists working closely together in one location
since 2010 the petco foundation in partnership with blue buffalo have invested more than $16 million in the fight against pet cancer
with more than 4 000 animal welfare partners the foundation works to inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs spay and neuter services pet cancer research service and therapy animals and numerous other lifesaving initiatives
for more information about the vmths oncology service visit http://vethospitaltamuedu/small-animal-hospital/oncology
to learn more about the petco foundation and its efforts to provide lifesaving treatment to pets visit wwwpetcofoundationorg/pethealth
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr jenna funk the newest clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program found her herd early in life
ive wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as i can remember ive never not wanted to be a veterinarian she said by the time i got to my first year of vet school when i did my feedlot internship i knew this was where i wanted to be i stepped onto my first feedlot and just immediately felt comfortable
after receiving her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from iowa state university in 2015 funk spent a year in a private cow-calf practice in nebraska before returning to iowa state university to complete a beef cattle residency and masters degree program in january of 2019 she moved to ontario canada to join a private cattle practice
now the beef cattle production medicine specialist has returned stateside to teach cvmbs students at vero on the west texas a&m university campus about beef cattle production through hands-on instruction with local producers in the texas panhandle
im really excited to be in texas in the heart of the beef cattle industry the big commercial feedlots are what i really fell in love with funk said ive been working in smaller confinement yards for a long time at this point so getting back to big open dirt yards is really exciting
dr susan eades head of the cvmbs large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) department said funk is a welcomed addition to the vero team and that funks skills and experience will benefit both students and the texas panhandle region tremendously
not only is dr funk an extremely competent beef cattle veterinarian but she truly loves teaching students eades said there are more than 25 million cattle within the region and more than 25% of all beef eaten in the us come from within a two-hour drive of vero so the opportunities for dr funk at vero are endless we are very happy shes chosen to join us
dr dee griffin vero director and a mentor of funks since her first year of veterinary school said hes excited by what funk will bring to vero in teaching students in the cvmbs new 2+2 dvm program as well as in leading fourth-year veterinary students on clinical rotations through feedlots and within rural practices in the region vero serves
i met jenna when she enrolled in a feeder cattle veterinary clinical skills and management summer educational program jenna spent 60-80 hours weekly learning every task on a 50 000-head feedyardfrom doctoring cattle ultrasound pregnancy exams cleaning water tanks driving heavy equipment and loading and unloading cattle trucks griffin said she did such an amazing job and demonstrated tremendous work ethic and attitude
funks relationship with griffin and the opportunities presented by the 2+2 program made her equally eager to apply at vero
what really appealed to me was veros drive to put students on the farms and in real-life situations the cooperation they have with the mixed animal practices the relationships theyre building with the commercial feedlots and dairies and their desire to give the students real-world experience in what theyre going to run into when they get out into practice funk said adding that the intricacies of large feed operations cant be replicated in a classroom and that exposure to these settings is key to preparing students for their first year in practice
the opportunities provided by joining the vero program early-on also appeal to funk who says she looks forward to helping build a program that students are proud to be a part of
internship opportunities hold particular significance to funk whose internship on a feedlot early in her veterinary schooling was very formative to her career
internship programs are very much near and dear to my heart because i know that thats the reason that im a feedlot vet today she said building these programs and bringing students in that dont necessarily have a lot of experience gives them these opportunities but with a bit of a safety net
attracting new students to rural and large animal veterinary medicine is an important task as demand for these specialties often exceeds supply funk hopes that vero will draw more veterinary students to rural practice to help meet the needs of small communities and ensure our nation has a safe and secure food supply
the key to rural practice is understanding rural life for students who have not been to small towns before its an adjustment she said its understanding that being 60 miles from the nearest walmart isnt as big of a deal as you think everything is scary until you do it or youre a part of it its important to show students rural practices and get them into the rural communities to show how great the people out here are
funk also hopes to draw more women into the field even though about 80% of veterinary students are women they make up only a third of large animal veterinarians
she credits dr jen schleining a vlcs clinical associate professor at the cvmbs as being an inspiration and mentor to her as a female veterinarian in a male-dominated sector funk hopes that she can offer similar support to other young women looking to pursue large animal rural medicine
there are rough spots there have been people who have said ‘no i dont want the lady vet i want the guy funk said but as long as you show up know your stuff and youre confident about what you know theyll accept you
for now funk seems to have little apprehension about returning to her feedlot roots in the new setting of veros home in canyon texas
ranchers and producers respect when you go out there and sweat just as much as they do when youre covered in just as much manure and mud by the end of the day she said ive always felt really comfortable around the farmers and ranchers and cowboys and then the cattle themselves i understand them it feels like its where im supposed to be; ive never felt like i should be anywhere else
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler senior communications specialist wt cchandler@wtamuedu 806-651-2124
at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) youre unlikely to find one of the fowler sisters without the other at her side; as identical twins ali and zoe fowler do just about everything together including working toward their degrees in veterinary medicine
the frisco natives decided at a young age to turn their love for animals into careers as veterinarians they spent their first year as undergraduate students at texas a&m university at galveston before transferring to the college station campus to study biomedical sciences (bims) one of the most common pre-vet majors
within the bims advising office the fowlers became known for their aggie spirit and ambition
ali and zoe are an academic advisers dream said michael black an academic adviser for the bims undergraduate program they are wonderful young women of integrity and represent what the texas a&m core values stand for they are caring and so full of life and spirit for the veterinary profession
when it finally came time to apply for veterinary school ali and zoe doubted they would be able to complete their schooling together but both hoped to continue at the cvmbs
we had always done the same sports and the same volunteer activities our grades were even very similar and our gre scores within just a few points it was drilled into us that veterinary schools wanted unique applicants but we had almost the exact same applications zoe said thats why we were kind of scared when applying i just assumed that we would get into different vet schools
however shortly after graduating from the bims program in december 2019 they received the exciting news that they both were accepted to begin veterinary school at texas a&m in the fall of 2020
now after completing their first semester ali and zoe agree that their bims major gave them a big advantage as veterinary students
the biomedical sciences courses are very rigorous zoe said at the time it seemed stressful but then we got into veterinary school and a lot of the classes were takinglike physiology immunology and anatomywere honestly pretty much identical to the material and the expectations that we had in undergrad it just made that transition a lot easier
that easy transition was even more important as they began veterinary school during the covid-19 pandemic
the protocols are very new for everyone but the vet school faculty did so amazing last semester with having office hours and trying to be available for everyone as much as they could via zoom ali said i was very thankful for that because i was really nervous coming in as a first-semester vet student with everything going on but overall our experience was really fun
during their first semester as veterinary students the fowlers relied on their habit of studying together and quizzing each other to keep up with the challenging courses
i have loved studying with zoe throughout our entire lives shes my automatic study buddy ali said sometimes she understands concepts that i dont and vice versa we can study alone but i cant imagine having to go back to solo studying
outside of the classroom the twins stuck together as they found new ways to connect with their fellow veterinary students by joining the christian veterinary fellowship and a community of students and veterinarians on instagram
through their instagram page @twinvets and blog ali and zoe share their veterinary school experiences and provide advice and encouragement for others interested in veterinary medicine
from biomedical sciences to the vet program it goes from a competitive atmosphere to one where everyones empowering and motivating each other ali said its a very fun and enlightening thing coming into vet school and realizing we actually arent competing with all of these people because were already here thats my favorite part of vet school thus far
after graduation both ali and zoe plan to pursue small animal medicine but know they will most likely be forced to part ways as they begin their careers at different clinics further down the road however they imagine co-owning a small animal clinic called a to z pet care in reference to their first names
we motivate each other and have the same train of thought when it comes to our future plans way down the road we definitely want to open a clinic together zoe said we always joke with family and friendswell be the vet-twin-arians
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an international team of researchers led by dr leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has found changes in gene expression patterns across the brain between wild and domestic rabbits which likely contributed to the evolution of tameness during domestication
by demonstrating that domestic animals acquired tolerance toward humans through regulatory changes of certain genes researchers are able to better understand the link between genetic changes and the mechanisms of evolution in rabbits and at a larger scale of plants and animals in general this research builds off anderssons previous work demonstrating a link between rabbit domestication and brain structure
the european rabbit is one of the most recently domesticated animals exhibiting distinct morphological physiological and behavioral differences from their wild counterparts tolerance of humans and tameness are noted traits differentiating the domestic and wild rabbits
domestication is often associated with the rapid development of such traits in a rather short evolutionary time period as such domestication has long been a major topic in evolutionary biology as it allows researchers to study the mechanisms of evolution on a more manageable time scale
in this study published in genome biology and evolution the researchers compared gene expression patterns in four brain regions between newborns of wild and domestic rabbits and detected hundreds of genes differentially expressed between the two
it is important to notice that the drastic changes in behavior between domestic animals and their wild ancestors are associated with changes in how genes are expressed during the development of the brain andersson said the domestication of plants and animals is one of the most important developments during human history in this study we shed light on how this process has altered brain function in domestic animals and made them tamer
one significant finding was that genes involved in dopamine signaling a chemical involved in fear responses were expressed at higher rates in the amygdala or area of the brain associated with memory decision-making and emotional responses of the domestic rabbit notably the amygdala is known as the part of the brain driving the fight or flight response which would play a part in determining whether a wild animal flees in the company of humans or a tame animal tolerates human presence
researchers also found that genes associated with ciliary function were consistently downregulated in the hippocampus an area of the brain associated with learning and memory of domestic rabbits cilia cells are tiny hair-like structures that aid in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
the flow of this fluid contributes to the transmission of molecular signals across the brain since these ciliary genes are important for brain development the researchers hypothesized that these changes contribute to the evolution of tameness
we were really surprised by the consistent changes we observed that several genes involved in dopamine signaling were consistently unregulated in the domestic brain and that many genes with associated with ciliary function was consistently downregulated andersson said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr william murphy a professor in the department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) was recently named a fellow by the american association for the advancement of science (aaas) the worlds largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals
murphy was elected for distinguished contributions to the field of comparative genomics particularly for mammalian chromosome and felid evolution advances according to the aaas announcement
i feel very honored and humbled to have been selected by aaas as a fellow murphy said i owe many thanks to many supportive mentors collaborators and colleagues throughout my career
vibs colleague professor dr leif andersson said that murphy was a deserving candidate for the fellowship
it is a very well-deserved honor for dr murphy to become an aaas fellow due to his outstanding contributions to genome biology andersson said
dr david threadgill a university distinguished professor at the texas a&m college of medicine and aaas fellow himself said murphy is more than deserving of the recognition
being elected an aaas fellow is a prestigious achievement threadgill said it shows recognition of impactful scholarship in science that transcends fields which is certainly true of dr murphy
dr murphy has clearly established himself as a leading authority in comparative genomics of mammalian evolution he said not only has he produced the foundation for the field (but) he has recently expanded the application of his pioneering work to provide a focused view of felid evolution these advances will no doubt be profoundly impactful for understanding how mammals evolved and more importantly how changing ecosystems may impact species preservation and future evolutionary adaptations
earlier this year murphy was named a chancellor enhancing development and generating excellence in scholarship (edges) fellow by the texas a&m university system as well as being named a university professor
he is among 489 scientists engineers and innovators including five others from texas a&m university who will be inducted during the aaas virtual meeting in february 2021
congratulations to our 2020 class of aaas fellows texas a&m vice president for research mark a barteau said each of these outstanding faculty members has made significant contributions to the advancement of science around the world as well as to the texas a&m university system texas a&m and our research missions
the other 2020 aaas fellows from texas a&m university are:
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
more than 650 people from across the united states attended the 2020 annual meeting of the national institute of environmental health sciences (niehs) hazardous substance basic research and training program (superfund research program) on dec 14-15 during which researchers from across the country came together to showcase and discuss the latest research and accomplishments in environmental health and biomedical sciences
the superfund research program provides practical scientific solutions to protect health the environment and communities
as part of the niehs an institute of the national institutes of health (nih) the superfund research program works to learn more about ways to protect the public from exposure to hazardous substances such as industrial solvents arsenic lead and mercury these and other toxic substances are found in contaminated water soil and air at hazardous waste sites throughout the us
the niehs-funded superfund center at texas a&m university was the host for the program-wide meeting originally scheduled to be an in-person even held at the texas a&m hotel and conference center the meeting was converted to a virtual format with the original program kept largely intact
this event attracted twice the number of the usual university-hosted annual meeting with 672 registered participants and 264 abstracts submitted by scientists at more than 30 us universities in addition more than 170 trainees presented their posters in four sessions and 11 trainees gave oral presentations
this year the meeting focused on two themes
day one addressed hazardous substance exposures at the community level and the solutions offered by the superfund research program
juan parras and nalleli hidalgo from texas environmental justice advocacy services (tejas) detailed the work of their non-profit in marginalized communities in southeast texas that suffer from a high burden of environmental injustice they also presented a toxic tour around several residential areas in houston
a discussion after the presentation centered on the partnerships between tejas and texas a&m scientists including those in the superfund center
additionally oral presentations by four trainees described examples of community-informed research at other superfund centers across the country and how the science is translated to addressing environmental health vulnerabilities of disadvantaged communities
day two was focused on the superfund-funded science that is meeting the challenges of environmental protection in the 21st century recent advances in biomedical and environmental science including data science opened new frontiers in the ability of scientists and decision-makers to better characterize exposures and their potential adverse health effects
dr russell thomas of the us environmental protection agency (epa) presented a keynote address on the agencys path toward more rapid efficient and protective chemical testing with fewer animals
additional trainee presentations detailed data science-driven research projects that address the challenges of environmental protection within 21st-century science
in spite of the challenges and hardships due to the covid-19 pandemic the superfund research program remains strong and delivers results that are used by a wide range of stakeholders from the impacted communities to regulatory agencies
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary students had the rare opportunity to care for endangered sea turtles found on massachusetts beaches suffering from hypothermia and other complications
on dec 7 more than 120 cold-stunned turtles were found in cape cod massachusetts because there were too many for the local new england aquarium to treat on its own the majority of the turtles were flown the same day to accredited facilities under the association of zoos and aquariums for further care and conservation efforts
twenty of these turtles were brought to the texas state aquariums wildlife rescue center in corpus christi where fourth-year veterinary student melanie pearson was doing an externship to learn more about aquarium and wildlife medicine she was joined on that monday by third-year veterinary student kaitlyn upton who volunteered to help care for the turtles
the two students worked with the aquariums veterinary team which included dr taylor yaw 14 and veterinary technologist morgan rosenbaum a graduate of texas a&m university–kingsvilles veterinary technology program
cvmbs associate professor dr j jill heatley also assisted the team by bringing important blood testing and analysis equipment from college station to collect samples and determine trace element and metal levels in the turtles
as soon as the turtles arrived the team sprang into action
what was really important to us when they first arrived was getting blood samples from all of them getting x-rays doing an ultrasound and just generally assessing their physical condition pearson said we knew that they probably all had pneumonia and were possibly very critically ill so we really wanted to get a complete picture immediately
we also wanted to get them into water as soon as possible because anatomically sea turtles are just not designed to be out of water for long periods of time they can get some bruising on their plastron or the bottom part of their shell she said so with all those things in mind we essentially set up an assembly line
as the turtles traveled from one station to the next they were measured and assigned a number for tracking by upton had blood drawn by yaw were x-rayed by rosenbaum and were given a full physical exam and ultrasound by yaw and pearson
obviously with ultrasound you cant see through the shell very well but if you look through what you would think of as the shoulder pocket or hip pocket you can see many different things pearson said dr yaw supervised closely but let me take the lead on a lot of it that was probably the most exciting part for me being able to practice those exam skills
finally the turtles received fluids to treat their dehydration and medicine to treat the pneumonia and were sent to the wildlife rescue centers pools to fully recover a process that could take months or up to a year
while the texas state aquarium regularly treats endangered wildlife it is not as common of an experience for veterinary students according to pearson being able to directly help endangered animals was an amazing aspect of her externship
ive worked with wildlife and endangered species before but lately it hasnt been as much on my mind because ive been so focused on getting through veterinary school she said this whole experience has completely rekindled my passion for it and for my desire to work with wildlife species that have the chance to be released back into the wild after treatment my goal is to continue to make that a part of my career as i move forward
in addition to the joy that comes with helping wildlife pearson was excited to work with a team of aggies and rosenbaum a longtime friend
this externship is definitely one of my favorites if not my absolute favorite in part because of the team pearson said
veterinarians wouldnt be able to do what they do without veterinary technicians and morgans living proof of that she said i learn a lot from her with all of the knowledge she has about the field since shes been out in it while ive been in school i also cant say enough good things about a&m–kingsville and the education she got there
dr yaw is also one of my favorite veterinarians ive had the opportunity to work with this year pearson continued every time we do something hes quizzing me on everything from anatomy to pharmacology hes just an incredible teacher and i feel like im learning something new every day
likewise according to yaw training students is a valuable and rewarding aspect of his job at the aquarium
since arriving at the texas state aquarium and wildlife rescue program it has been a personal mission to get our veterinary and veterinary technology student programs up and running so that we can actively be a part of training the next generation of aquarium and wildlife medical professionals yaw said getting to work with aggie students has really come full circle for me here at the aquarium and wildlife rescue it was only a few years ago that i was sitting in their shoes as i too traveled to corpus christi as a student to learn more about aquatic animal and wildlife medicine
the students are always so energetic and excited; for many it is their first time working with many of the species we provide medical care he said melanie and kaitlyn were a huge help during this cold stun event and their excitement was contagious we only get to have the students for a short time but the work we do as a team is so intensive and involved that we really get to know each student on a personal level and consider them a part of our larger aquarium family
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a research team led by the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been awarded a conservation innovation grant from the us department of agriculture (usda) to develop a new artificial intelligence-based wildlife monitoring system
the conservation innovation grant program under the usda natural resources conservation service supports the development of new tools approaches practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands
the nearly $700 000 grant will be used by principal investigator and cvmbs associate professor dr donald brightsmith and his team to integrate camera image and sensor data to create a tool to monitor wildlife typically difficult to observe including pollinators reptiles amphibians and nesting birds
currently landowners do not have many options for measuring their wildlife conservation efforts such as setting up nesting boxes for birds or preserving areas of natural land besides bringing in teams of scientists for hand surveys a costly and lengthy process since private land makes up so much of the us landowners efforts play a key role in the countrys overall wildlife management and conservation
brightsmiths team in conjunction with colleagues from the university of california santa barbara; the university of hawaii; and private industry is working to develop a low-cost and easy-to-use system that will allow producers to monitor wildlife on their land and understand how their actions are directly affecting the local environment
part of our grant is to make it so a typical landowner can easily use a laptop or phone app to see the information that came in from a specific camera such as where that camera is on a map; the weather temperature light and humidity there; and the critters that were at that camera brightsmith said
commercial wildlife cameras already allow landowners to monitor wildlife on a small scale but by using artificial intelligence to aggregate and analyze data from a number of cameras and locations landowners will be able to see a much more complete picture
the camera system will photograph the scene and whenever there is a significant change forward images to a central computer that will use artificial intelligence to identify species behaviors and trends according to connie woodman a member of brightsmiths team and graduate student in the cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) traditionally this process would take scientists dozens of hours conducting surveys and sorting through photos
if this sort of technology could be available at low cost or free to farmers it could really impact the ability to see if conserving farmland and private land is working woodman said its just too expensive to have a hands-on survey for every property owner who wants to apply for government support to maintain wild lands and wildlife populations
one of the other objectives within this is if landowners are doing land management activities like cutting spraying or planting they will be able to look at the data coming in to immediately see how those changes in the ecosystem have impacted key reptiles amphibians birds and bees brightsmith said
a landowner can do something or not do something and find out how the environment changes over a short period of time with relatively little need for outside monitoring or assistance because they can be hooked directly to the data from their land he said
the camera system will be used in three different setupsa ground setup to monitor reptiles and amphibians a veil trap setup for insects and a bird nesting box setup in all three uses the animals photographed will be free from any harm or human interference
an early version of the nest box setup has already been deployed in the pacific northwest by collaborators within field data technologies and is providing invaluable data on chickadee and purple martin nesting behaviors
its doing more than just taking photos; its spitting out data how many eggs when was there a change how many times is the nest being visited how many times does a chickadee investigate a nest box before it decides that its good enough woodman said with that data we can tell a land manager ‘the chickadee started visiting the nest boxes ‘x weeks before it used them so if you wait until june to hang up the box you wont get any use this year
there are all of these management recommendations that can be enabled by data she said and when data collection is automated we can ask a database questions instead of staring at hours of video and photos that dont convey meaning we can do really amazing things to modify how we interact with the ecosystem and support these animals
while the conservation innovation grant will directly support the technologys creation and use in supporting landowners brightsmith hopes that the technology will one day also be adapted to create systems that could survey for invasive species and agricultural pests monitor wildlife recovery after natural disasters and more
if we build a technology thats fairly straightforward to train the ai someone else can take our platform and tweak it he said our objective is to create a system that has unlimited potential
the system will initially be tested in arizona california texas and montana to see how it works in different environments the team has already partnered with producers and other landowners near austin san antonio and southern california to see how the technology holds up around large animals like cattle
along with brightsmith and woodman collaborators on this conservation innovation grant include drs chris evelyn and katja seltmann from the university of california santa barbara cheadle center for biodiversity and ecological restoration; dr ethel villalobos from the university of hawaii at manoa; and doug bonham senior electronics engineer at microsoft and the founder and president of field data technologies of essex montana (501(c)3 non-profit)
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a new collaborative telehealth project at texas a&m university is improving access to mental health resources and veterinary medical care in underserved areas surrounding bryan-college station
jeremy kenny veterinary innovation & entrepreneurship program manager in texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs); dr lori teller director of the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospitals (vmth) virtual vet telemedicine program; dr carly mccord director of the health science centers (hsc) telebehavioral care (tbc) clinic; and dr ray pentecost a healthcare design expert from the college of architecture have joined forces to serve people in nearby communities who otherwise might not be able to access these lifesaving resources
the idea for the project began two years ago when kenny joined the cvmbs with the goal of expanding the colleges use of telemedicine
noting the success of mccords tbc clinic which provides mental health resources and counseling to local people facing barriers to health care the team decided to explore the potential of creating a similar strategy for veterinary medicine
we sat down and quickly came up with this ideathat some of the mental health patients dr mccord was serving probably have pets as well if they are unable to access care for their own mental health concerns their pets probably arent getting the veterinary care they need either kenny said so we thought what if we could partner to bring telehealth veterinary care to these peoples pets in much the same way that theyre able to get their own mental health care
they discovered the perfect funding opportunity for their project through the texas a&m school of innovations innovation[x] grant which brings together faculty graduate and undergraduate students from across campus to address real-world issues
the grant opportunity served as the catalyst for organizing our thoughts because we needed to include students and meet all of these parameters that we hadnt discussed yet kenny said once the grant opportunity came about everything just fell into place
the four submitted their project using telehealth to improve access to care for humans and animals in underserved areas and were awarded $20 000 for the first year which would focus on the brenham community
before the cvmbs could begin offering veterinary care via telemedicine pets owned by participants in mccords brenham tbc clinic needed to be examined in-person to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (vcpr) to comply with current veterinary telehealth laws
we realized it could be a great opportunity for fourth-year veterinary students on a primary care rotation to take a trip down to brenham for a day and perform wellness exams on a variety of animals teller said this would set up a vcpr with those animals so we could follow up with them via telemedicine for the next year
on oct 30 a group of students and faculty members from the cvmbs hsc and college of architecture traveled to brenham to hold their first pop-up wellness clinic the group which included faculty members drs lori teller and james bilof veterinary technicians beki davis and laura tompkins and three fourth-year veterinary students on clinical rotations at the vmth saw 12 dogs and one cat during the four-hour clinic
by all accounts it was a success teller said the three students really got a lot out of it and i think they appreciated the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the animals and interact in-person with the clients with all appropriate precautions it was a joy to watch them get to work
this experience reminded me of the importance pets hold; they provide a sense of companionship and community said james mcnew one of the fourth-year veterinary students who attended the pop-up clinic the individuals that i worked with were even brought to tears telling me how grateful they were for our services and how they wished they had the means to take their pets to the vet
it was truly humbling to be able to provide preventative care to pets through this grant mcnew said it is a reminder and even a lesson that no assumptions should be made about the care someone provides their pet and why they make those decisions it was an honor to be a part of this project and make a difference in the lives of both these pets and their owners
the students vaccinated all 13 animals performed heartworm tests on the dogs and addressed skin conditions and other minor health issues they referred clients to local veterinarians for bigger concerns and dispensed medications for common conditions with help from two texas a&m pharmacy students who also work in the vmth pharmacy
we were grateful for the pharmacy students help teller said they printed labels for medications dispensed and verified doses when they enter the pharmacy profession they will have a great appreciation for what veterinarians do because they got to see it live and share in the experience
in addition to benefiting all of the students in attendance the pop-up clinic was greatly appreciated by the pets owners
one client who was in a wheelchair told me ‘i cannot get medical care for myself and i am so grateful that my dogs are being seen by a doctor today my dogs are my life youve made my dayno my weekno my month teller recalled
as the project continues the vmth will conduct telemedicine visits with the owners of the pets they treated in brenham to address ongoing health concerns
in addition to directly helping the pets the project will have lasting impacts on both human and veterinary medicine through the data it provides on telemedicine and because the pet owners usually participate in mccords tbc clinic the role pets play in mental health
through all of this we plan to be able to generate a lot of data that shows the efficacy of telehealth and why its beneficial teller said but we also want to help provide more support for the human-animal bond research that currently exists
we know through the various research and statistics that have already been provided by the human animal bond research institute that there are direct correlations between pets and their owners mental and physical health the better off the pet is the better off their owners health is she said so were going to help their pets get better and hopefully be able to measure the positive outcomes that were assuming will be had on the owners mental health
by continuing to collaborate with the hsc and the college of architecture kenny and teller hope this project will expand to help even more pets and people in areas surrounding bryan-college station
telemedicine is going to be an important part of the way veterinary care is practiced in the future kenny said if we can start educating students now and getting them practice on the best ways to do telemedicine itll certainly be beneficial to them 10 years from now when theyre out in practice and its much more mainstream
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the easy-to-use cost-effective tool which will be offered through the texas a&m gi lab represents a significant development in veterinary medicine
after leading in the research and development of volitionrx limiteds (volition) nuq™ vet cancer screening test the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) will now be offering the newly launched easy-to-use cost-effective cancer test through the cvmbs gastrointestinal (gi) laboratory
volition a belgium-based multi-national epigenetics company that works to develop blood tests that help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases in both humans and animals announced the launch of the nuq™ vet cancer screening test its first product in the united states on monday (nov 30)
the test is now available to veterinarians in north america for use during annual wellness checks of older dogs for cases where there is a suspicion of cancer or for younger dogs from breeds with a high risk for developing cancer in their lifetimes
the work of volition and dr heather wilson-robles and her team at the cvmbs veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) that has led to this extraordinary achievement will undoubtedly have an enormous impact on dogs their owners and the veterinarians who serve them both said dr john r august cvmbs dean the college is thrilled to be able to continue to support those efforts by being among the first to offer this low-cost testing through our gi laboratory; as with human cancers early diagnosis is key and this testing will not only save dogs lives but will offer dogs a better quality of life through earlier treatment
the launch represents a significant development in veterinary medicine as until the release of the nuq™ vet cancer screening test there were no accurate simple and affordable elisa cancer screening tests available in veterinary medicine according to dr heather wilson-robles cvmbs professor and dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology who also serves as chief medical officer of volition veterinary diagnostics development llc
unlike in humans where routine cancer screening is relatively commonplace there are few tests for animals we are changing this today with the launch of the nuq™ vet cancer screening test wilson-robles said this simple low-cost blood test can help streamline the diagnostic process and shorten the path to diagnosis thereby allowing treatment (be that chemotherapy radiation therapy or surgery) to be initiated earlier even before symptoms appear increasing the chance of the dogs survival and its quality of life
i am so looking forward to speaking to as many key opinion leaders and veterinarians themselves over the coming months to let them know about this fantastic new way to help dogs be diagnosed and treated she said
the gi lab is pleased and honored to serve as the launching laboratory for this new simple screening tool for cancer in dogs dr wilson-robles work has shown impressive specificity of this new test allowing veterinarians a simple and affordable modality to check dogs for possible cancer said dr joerg steiner texas a&m distinguished university professor dr mark morris chair of small animal gastroenterology and nutrition and director of the gi lab
cancer is the most common cause of death in dogs over the age of 2 years in the us also up to 50% of all dogs over the age of 10 develop cancer in their lifetime currently dogs suspected of having cancer are required to undergo a variety of diagnostic tests that may be expensive time consuming and/or invasive
the nuq™ vet cancer screening test measures and identifies circulating nucleosomes which are early markers of cancer from a simple blood sample at 100% specificity the test has been shown to detect 74% of lymphomas and 89% of hemangiosarcomas two of the most common cancers in dogs that comprise approximately one-third of canine cancers
the benefit for the veterinarian the pet owner and the dog is a streamlined diagnostic process: simpler quicker and less-invasive diagnosis with the goal of providing quality of life to the pet and more quality time with its owners as well as providing valuable additional information to inform the clinical decision-making process
the launch of the nuq™ vet cancer screening test is a stand out moment in our 10 year history and an extremely important milestone for our company it demonstrates that our nuq™ platform has now attained both the reliability and reproducibility to launch in an independent laboratory said cameron reynolds volition chief executive officer
after setting up our veterinary subsidiary just over a year ago the combination of experience and expertise of the volition veterinary and texas a&m teams has enabled this incredible speed to market especially considering the pandemic this is a hugely important test that we hope will fundamentally change how veterinarians manage cancer detection in dogs
during its initial launch phase volition is focused on driving awareness of the test not only across the specialist oncology community nationwide but also the general practice veterinarians in texas through a series of activities including a webinar featuring wilson-robles and dr sue ettinger (aka dr sue cancer vet)
for more information about the nuq™ vet cancer screening visit https://volitioncom/veterinary and for more information on testing at the texas a&m gi lab visit https://vetmedtamuedu/gilab/
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an interview with cameron reynolds and dr heather wilson-robles is available at: https://youtube/x2iin2owj7y
a team of researchers including dr weihsueh chiu professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) has been awarded a three-year healthy ecosystems grant by the gulf research program of the national academy of sciences engineering and medicine to address the risk of flood-induced chemical spills at gulf coast facilities
in a partnership between the cvmbs the environmental defense fund the galveston bay foundation and texas a&ms college of engineering school of public health and college of architecture researchers will conduct modeling and analysis to identify which facilities are most at risk and what solutions such as natural infrastructure might reduce those risks and lessen impacts to nearby communities and ecosystems by mapping and modeling potential floods at-risk facilities the team will support efforts to mitigate pollution through natural infrastructure
this unique collaboration leverages expertise across multiple disciplines that will inform strategies for other vulnerable coastal areas with heavy industrial footprints such as in neighboring louisiana
the texas and louisiana coasts are home to a multitude of industrial and petrochemical facilities many of which are vulnerable to flooding and future sea level increases heavy rainfall and flooding like that seen during hurricane harvey can cause chemicals to be released into the air and water; though many of these chemicals are harmful to human health and the ecosystem the full extent of the risks they pose is unclear
its been increasingly recognized how much industrial facilities might be vulnerable to the increasing rate and intensity of storms on the gulf coast chiu said this year weve seen a record number of named stormswere into the greek alphabet in terms of naming with climate change it is likely that this would continue to intensify
this research project will result in first-of-its-kind assessment for identifying natural and nature-based infrastructure to reduce risk of flooding contaminant release and exposure
the study will focus on contaminants associated with petrochemical facilities and their presence in two common and economically important fish species found in galveston bay speckled sea trout and red drum the presence and concentration of such contaminants can shed light on both recent chemical releases and those that occurred in the past this project focuses on galveston bay because of the number of nearby industrial facilities and its potential to serve as a model for the gulf coast as a whole
in addition to measuring contaminants and assessing risk the research team will also assess different strategies aimed at reducing the probability of flooding or mitigating contaminant releases to protect the ecosystem and coastal populations some of these strategies include improved stormwater management infrastructure and constructed wetlands the results of these assessments can help inform efforts to improve resiliency of gulf coast communities and industrial facility risk management plans
low-income underserved communities along the gulf coast are at greatest risk from releases of chemical contaminants these releases can also result in closure of fishing grounds with devastating effects to commercial fishing fleets and related jobs
because flooding and contaminant releases are subjects that affect a large population the research team will strive to involve regulators public health officials and other stakeholders in the region
we hope to be able to prioritize which facilities are at the greatest risk for potential flooding and which would most benefit from different types of green infrastructure to mitigate those risks chiu said the other part of this is looking at more the ecosystem health and not just the human health because humans and ecosystems depend on each other
by understanding how contaminants move through gulf coast waters and assessing which mitigation efforts are most likely to be effective stakeholders from many different areas can come together to reduce the risks that gulf coast ecosystems and communities face
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
chelsea folmar a fourth-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) was one of three distinguished students selected to receive a $75 000 coyote rock ranch veterinary scholarship from the foundation for the horse
the coyote rock ranch scholarship awards top veterinary school students who have a passion for performance horse medicine and are aspiring toward careers in equine medicine
folmar was selected from nearly 40 applicants for her academic excellence leadership at the cvmbs and its american association of equine practitioners (aaep) student chapter and her long-term goals
this scholarship allows me the freedom to pursue an equine internship and then residency in large animal internal medicine said folmar a first-generation college graduate this path can be more financially challenging and this scholarship gives me the ability to hone my research potential technical skills and communication abilities
the scholarship will be awarded in december during the american association of equine practitioners 66th annual convention taking place virtually
penelope knight created the coyote rock ranch veterinary scholarship in 2015 since the first scholarships were awarded five years ago 16 aaep student members have benefited from a cumulative $1275 million in assistance
with the help of the foundation for the horse i am pleased to offer this great opportunity to benefit our next generation of veterinarians knight said helping future veterinarians is one way i am able to support research and advancements of care for the horse in an industry that is dear to my heart
coyote rock ranch owned by penelope knight and located in the beautiful high desert country of central oregon is a breeding operation for high-end cutting horses committed to quality in everything they do coyote rock ranch has a reputation for breeding and raising well-bred quarter horses with the pedigree and care to become tomorrows champions to learn more visit wwwcoyoterockranchcom
established in 1994 the foundation for the horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the welfare of the horse through education research and benevolence governed and stewarded by world-renowned equine veterinarians and equine stakeholders the foundation awards over $700 000 annually in scholarships and grants to impact equine health and well-being throughout the us and developing countries to learn more visit wwwfoundationforthehorseorg
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler senior communications specialist wt cchandler@wtamuedu 806-651-2124
a significant part of the west texas a&m university campus that includes the texas a&m veterinary education research & outreach (vero) building and the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) now bears the name of texas a&m distinguished alumnus and one of the worlds top equine veterinariansdr charles w doc graham 53
the naming of the charles w doc graham 53 dvm the texas a&m university system center was approved on thursday during the texas a&m university system board of regents quarterly meeting
dr graham is held in such esteem around texas and around the country for his brilliance in the field of equine health and animal science said dr walter wendler wt president students who learn and work in a group of buildings bearing his name will have a goal for which to strive and an example to live up to which can only help in our goal of producing the finest veterinarians in the state
the contributions dr graham has made to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) are immeasurable said dr john august cvmbs dean dr graham was an influential participant in the funding and construction of our colleges veterinary & biomedical education complex and as a member of the texas a&m equine research committee he helped recruit leaders for texas a&ms equine initiative and to the cvmbs through his ardent support of our college and of our vero initiative cvmbs students in both college station and canyon will benefit from his generosity and his efforts for decades to come
the center carries grahams name at the request of stan and gerry sigman whose pledge to wt for the creation of a professorship in the paul engler college of agriculture included a request that the new tvmdl vero and the future texas a&m agrilife research facilities be named in honor of graham stan sigman is a 1970 wt graduate and 2007 wt distinguished alumnus; stan and gerry are generous wt donors and were the leading donors to the wt agricultural sciences complex
in addition to his renowned reputation in equine medicine graham is a leader in texas horse and cattle industries and a tireless volunteer advocate and youth mentor
graham is the only individual to serve as president for both the texas quarter horse association (tqha) and the texas thoroughbred association (tta) he is also the only person to be selected as horseman of the year by both associations he is a hall of fame member of the american quarter horse association hall of fame the texas rodeo cowboy hall of fame the texas horse racing hall of fame and the texas cowboy hall of fame
grahams other honors include the 2013 texas a&m agrilife distinguished texan in agriculture award the 2010 college of agriculture & life sciences outstanding alumnus award and the 1991 cvmbs outstanding alumnus award
in 2018 it was announced that the new canyon-based texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory would bear grahams name
as we embark on this new chapter of tvmdl history in canyon it only seems fitting to have our facility carry the name of someone who has left a lasting impression on our industry dr bruce akey tvmdl director said dr graham has been an unwavering supporter of tvmdls mission and vision for decades and we are proud to be part of his legacy in texas
graham earned his bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry in 1953 his bachelor of science degree in animal science in 1954 and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1961 all from texas a&m
in the early 1960s graham and dr w h cardwell built the elgin veterinary hospital and grew the practice into one of the largest equine veterinary facilities in the nation graham is now owner of a number of other businesses including the 1 300-acre southwest stallion station in elgin which has bred some of the top stallions and broodmares in the quarter horse industry
the vero and tvmdl buildings opened in september 2020 a grand opening and dedication ceremony is planned for april 2021
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler senior communications specialist wt cchandler@wtamuedu 806-651-2124
large animal medicine is not a path for the faint of heart requiring long days outside a healthy respect for the physical power of livestock a delicate understanding of rural communities and oftentimes a strong stomach
luckily dr benjamin newcomer a clinical associate professor with the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program isnt afraid to get his hands dirty if it means improving animal welfare
one thing i really like about veterinary medicine is that every days different theres always something new it never gets humdrum newcomer said my dad was an agriculture teacher so i had always been exposed to cattle growing up and just loved being outside and loved the people who usually work with cattle
raised for five years in guatemala during his childhood the outreach newcomers father did in agricultural development exposed newcomer to the needs of rural agricultural communities and the importance of service from an early age this made newcomers decision to pursue his doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from the university of florida a natural choice
after graduating in 2002 newcomer worked at a large dairy practice in central california practicing dairy production medicine and spent two years working through the christian veterinary mission to support local farmers in central africa before returning stateside in july 2006 and subsequently joined the faculty of the auburn university college of veterinary medicine in 2008
there he completed his phd in biomedical sciences and achieved board certification by the american college of veterinary internal medicine (large animal) and the american college of veterinary preventive medicine (epidemiology) and the american board of toxicology
following 12 years of work in farm animal internal medicine and epidemiology research at auburn newcomer is opening another exciting chapter of his career as he joined the vero team last week
vero a dynamic partnership between the cvmbs and west texas a&m university brings veterinary students to the heart of one of the most productive animal agricultural regions in the world opening opportunities for these students to collaborate in hands-on projects with industry partners and stakeholders both in the region and across the nation
we are delighted to welcome dr newcomer to the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and vero faculty he brings to our program an exciting combination of dairy practice experience and teaching skills that will allow vero to continue providing first-class hands-on education to our students said dr susan eades head of the cvmbs large animal clinical sciences department his experience in working in the industry will also help the program continue in its mission of strengthening community relations and the veterinary field
newcomers affinity for the hands-on nature of dairy production medicine meshes well with the goals of vero which serves the texas panhandle region by training highly qualified highly motivated veterinary students in the livestock and rural animal medicine skills required to meet the regions need
dr newcomers skills reach almost two decades of experience in multiple states and countries said dee griffin director of the vero program he is perhaps the most academically prepared clinical dairy management professor in the us
the extremely large dairies we have in the texas panhandle and high plains are extremely sophisticated griffin said dr newcomer is one of the few veterinarians in the us we could have recruited who is capable of navigating the level of expertise required to work with dairies of this magnitude and be able to develop a dairy clinical veterinary and management program for our cvmbs students
its well known that the history and tradition of texas a&m is unrivaled were known for producing quality veterinary graduates newcomer said the vero program in particular is geographically situated in a growing area with lots of cattle where students can get hands-on experience and that made this position really attractive to me as an educator
newcomer was also drawn by the opportunities of service through veterinary education
i think the biggest long-term impact vero will have will be training veterinarians who have been exposed to those rural situations in the panhandle he said vero is starting to fill shortages in these areas by turning out veterinarians who are well-prepared and have a desire and an interest to go back into those situations
when working in rural settings such as canyon where vero is based newcomer finds fulfillment in the relationships built between veterinarians and the local community
i certainly appreciate the community of food animal veterinarians he said the people ive known in food animal medicine and producers in the industry care about people they value relationships which is exciting to see tight-knit community is something i value something i would hope to plug into at vero and texas a&m
the work of vero and its supporting veterinarians like newcomer is vitally important to supporting the stability of our nations food supply the texas panhandle specifically is home to the third-largest milkshed in the nation in addition to roughly 13 million head of cattlemore than any other state the texas department of agriculture values this industry at $123 billion
ensuring we have a safe and sustainable food source is important and its something that we sometimes take for granted theres a lack of exposure if you havent grown up around agriculture and you just assume our foods going to be there newcomer said
my hope would be that we as a profession of veterinarians can continue to provide some insight and assistance to that industry as far as maintaining the food supply but also speaking to issues on animal welfare where we can provide a balanced opinion and one thats respected by both the industry as well as outsiders he said
this commitment to hands-on education service and sustainability is a long-held value of newcomers demonstrated by his time in central africa working with christian veterinary mission to build relationships with a group called the fulani through veterinary medicine that work with the fulani also grew newcomers commitment to diversity in veterinary medicine and enforced the value of different perspectives when facing new problems
if we want to really approach the challenges were facing we need to have different inputs in our solutions he said the only way were going to get that is to have a diverse input of ideas and experiences to help approach those problems in a way that will be sustainable and productive
domestically newcomer has also been passionate about problem solving with a robust background in researching preventative measures and treatments for bovine viral diarrhea (bvd) a condition causing respiratory and reproductive issues in addition to a number of secondary infections that is found in the majority of the world and has major economic impacts on the cattle industry
my research has primarily been involved with infectious diseases; in my work with bvd ive been pretty heavily involved with looking at new antivirals for cattle he said thats a developing field but particularly in the panhandle with the feed lot industry being as prevalent as it is theres certainly some potential there to really maximize animal welfare animal health and production if we can use some targeted antivirals to control bvd or some of those other issues prevalent in these spaces
newcomer is just as eager to get started with vero as vero is to have him the coming year offers many opportunities for enrichment in the vero program the region and the aggie community as a whole
over the past 10 years the texas panhandle has become one of the major dairy area; there are lots of producers and veterinarians who would love to have students come by and get involved he said veros nicely situated where we can make those relationships and get those students out for those experiences
i am very excited for the new opportunities at vero for getting my feet on the ground and for getting to know my colleagues there a little better he said im also excited about starting to build relationships with the dairymen working with the texas a&m veterinary students on clinical rotations and learning aggie culture and panhandle culture and investing in the community there
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler senior communications specialist wt cchandler@wtamuedu 806-651-2124
nothing prepared me for the first time we were riding in the back of a truck and they pulled up in a field and said ‘all right the animal is down; go in and get it said emma haschke reflecting on her study abroad trip to africa we would just hop off of the truck and take off running in the middle of the african bush to get our hands on the animals it was absolutely incredible
for three weeks in the summer of 2019 the senior biomedical sciences major got hands-on experience with several species during a trip to south africa led by texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) faculty members drs james derr and walt cook
this trip inspired a passion for wildlife medicine and conservation that shaped her career goals in ways she never imagined
while haschke has always had a love for wild animals and has long dreamed of becoming a veterinarian her study abroad provided a new perspective on how veterinary medicine can play a key role in environmental health
ive been interested in wildlife from a young age haschke said my family has property out in the hill country where we manage white-tailed deer blackbuck antelope and feral hogs ive always been familiar with texas-specific wildlife but i definitely had no idea how interested i was in african exotic animals until i went on that trip thats what really sparked my passion and showed me how hands-on a veterinarians role could be with conservation
for the majority of the trip the group stayed in south africa on a ranch owned by cvmbs alumnus dr jim myers 62; they then traveled to botswana to gain more species-specific experience at a rhino sanctuary
my favorite day of the entire trip was probably the day we got to work with rhinos in botswana because the veterinarian we worked with was so knowledgeable and kind; he really took the time to explain the physiology and the reasons behind the ways we were interacting with the animals haschke said
he also took us on a sunset game drive around botswana that was gorgeous and so surreal she said we were standing out there watching the sun set and there were rhinos walking by herds of zebras and impala and it looked like it was straight out of ‘the lion king it was magnificent
one aspect of the trip that especially sparked haschkes interest was learning about the daily interactions between people and animals and the impact wildlife has on local communities and ecosystems
for example we learned about some exotic species there that are actually considered pests to locals like baboons she said theyre a really big problem for a lot of farmers especially in the timber industry which is something that i had never even heard about before baboons are a very invasive species and theyre comparable to feral hogs here in texas
after she returned home haschke was eager to continue learning about african wildlife and the benefits of a one health viewpoint of conservation that focuses on animal human and environmental health
with the encouragement of the cvmbs director of international programs dr linda logan she began brainstorming a research project that would allow her to share her new knowledge
i wanted to highlight a more holistic approach to conservation rather than just focusing on the biology of the species haschke said there are people directly interacting with these wildlife species and its really important to get them involved with protecting the wildlife too
she focused her project on a community-based approach to wildlife conservation and ecological health specifically as it relates to the rhino horn trade and human-elephant conflict and presented her research titled one health issues of african wildlife during a virtual zoom presentation on aug 18
it was really exciting to have the opportunity to have an audience to engage with and we even had a great q&a session at the end where some people brought up some great ideas and perspectives that i hadnt even thought about before she said it was a really great end to the project and wrapped a nice bow on that whole experience
though her presentation is complete haschke has no plans to stop learning about wildlife at home and abroad
after earning her doctor of veterinary medicine she hopes to begin a career as a wildlife veterinarian in texas where more and more land owners are interested in owning exotic animals including many african species
its important that there are veterinarians equipped for handling new species and that theyre familiar with them and the issues that come along with them haschke said they cant just treat each individual animal; they also need to look at what it looks like to have all of these new species here in texas
haschkes love for texas wildlife is partly due to her great uncle dr robert bob dittmar ‘79 who served as the state wildlife veterinarian until he tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in early august 2020
he was definitely a man of few words but whenever i did get the chance to learn from him he was just incredibly knowledgeable and a very kind teacher haschke said when i went to africa thats when he started really opening up about his work with texas wildlife including the bighorn sheep in west texas and the dynamics between invasive species and the native species that need our protection
in addition to giving me my foot in the door with wildlife medicine my uncle also introduced me to a lot of really wonderful people and mentors at texas a&m she said he was always looking out for me and always making sure that i had good people on my side
as haschke finishes up her undergraduate education she is excited to begin the next chapter of her life and pursue her love for wildlife medicine and conservation
i recently took a course called ‘agents of change that emphasized how we can be very important in creating change in our communities and then even on a bigger societal level haschke said that was a big inspiration behind why ive really been drawn to working with wildlife and ive found a great personal calling to help out with conservation
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team of researchers at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and the texas a&m school of public health (sph) has developed a model that predicts at a state-level the non-pharmaceutical intervention needs of states to mitigate risk and contain covid-19 as they reopen
this transmission dynamic modelwhich evaluates the impact of contact tracing testing and social distancing as tools in reducing covid-19 spreadrelies on past data of states covid-19 cases and deaths to sort states into risk categories the model then proposes the appropriate degree of intervention required for states to safely reopen or reduce their current spread of covid-19
such a tool could be used by state public health departments to inform the degree of contact tracing testing and social distancing that should be pursued to both contain the outbreak and to inform what mitigation efforts should be taken when relaxing restrictions and reopening to compensate for increased risk of spread
we are trying to understand these three factors first and how each state was doing in july and then looking forward how much would they need to improve upon each of those factors in order to mitigate the transmission to get what they call the r-naught below one said weihsueh chiu a study author and professor in the cvmbs department of veterinary integrated biosciences (vibs)
the r-naught is a measure of the average number of people that a single infected individual will transmit the disease to if the r-naught is below one that means that the infection is spreading slowly and will eventually die out
this study published in nature human behavior found that as of the end of july only three states (connecticut maine and new hampshire) were on track to curtail their epidemic curve
eight states (arizona florida idaho maryland north dakota nevada south carolina and washington) required a 50% reversal of reopening and increased contact tracing and testing to reduce and maintain transmission rates below the very high category the remaining 39 states and the district of columbia had to double their testing and/or contact tracing rates and/or roll back re-opening by 25% to stay on track
the researchers have made this tool publicly available online so local and state officials can make data-driven policy decisions on how to compensate for increased re-opening measures by increasing other forms of mitigation they present their results in an and/or format that would allow states to pick and choose the re-opening plan that would work best for their region
probably fewer states than we expect have their own modeling team if youre a public health department even the state health department you dont necessarily have a modeler on-hand on your staff said rebecca fischer a study author and sph assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics a lot of health departments are looking for this kind of help that they dont have on-hand these techniques are really applicable to those departments and making them accessible and available is important
until a vaccine is approved managing the spread of covid-19 will be instrumental in keeping communities safe the results of this study inform on how we can define our new normal and resume daily life until a vaccine is available
increasing these efforts is very much paramount in helping to mitigate the situation because non-pharmaceutical interventions are basically just tools that help us to curtail the spread until we have a pharmaceutical that can be widely distributed which you hopefully use to get rid of the problem once and for all said martial ndeffo a study author and assistant professor in the cvmbs vibs department we want to bring this pandemic to the point where we can resume a normal life without worrying too much about the situation
defining these parameters for re-opening is the first step in creating safer more open communities in the midst of this pandemic
cooperation at an individual level is imperative for the success of these mitigation efforts: this study demonstrates the impact that each of us can have in curbing the spread of covid-19 when we all do our part according to the researchers
participating in getting tested contact tracing and social distancing is not just to protect yourself; its about protecting the community around you chiu said if we all did our part we would all be safer collectively this disease doesnt discriminate; it can be transferred it doesnt care who you are when it finds you so were all in this together; by being safer as individuals it makes us all safer in a sort of multiplicative way
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
colette nickodem a second-year phd student in biomedical sciences at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) is a recipient of the first united states department of agriculture (usda) food safety and inspection service (fsis) oak ridge institute for science and education (orise) graduate student food safety fellowship
the fellowship established by the usdas under secretary for food safety is a one-year paid program that will support nickodem in her food safety research interests while also providing mentorship on her research project
she is one of four graduate students across the country to receive this opportunity
nickodems winning project aims to utilize naturally occurring bacteriophages viruses that infect bacteria in beef cattle feedlots to reduce levels of antibiotic-resistant (aresistant) salmonella
cattle acquire salmonella from their environment which can accumulate in their lymph nodes and then can be incorporated into ground beef products this creates a food safety concern as humans can become ill from eating this contaminated beef
the majority of human salmonellosis cases are due to foodborne illnesses or contaminated food products nickodem said its very important to make sure that everyone knows this is a thing that happens that food gets contaminated
nickodems research is a fitting culmination of her educational background; with a bachelors degree in nutritional science from the university of wisconsin-madison and a master of public health degree in epidemiology from texas a&m she is able to apply strong analytical skills and her knowledge of the food system in a one health approach to tackle food safety-related research
its a full circle because through the nutritional science degree i had to take a lot of food safety classes that relate back to all of the foodborne pathogens that are spread through animal products she said since i have the public health background i want to always relate what im doing back to the human health side of things
the fsis orise fellowship is unique in that it exposes recipients to public policy that translates hard-science findings to real-world guidelines for the food production industry nickodem says she is eager to learn about how policies and processes are enacted to make a difference
i think a lot of times you do your research you present it in a publication and thats usually it she said one thing i dont know very much about is being able to bring those findings to a higher level and make big interventional changes at a place like the food safety and inspection service its a goal for me to be able to understand that process more because it might be something i want to do in the future
the mentorship opportunities provided are another draw to the program for nickodem who will work with scientists at the usda who have expert knowledge in her field of interest in addition to providing guidance on her project this committee will also provide insight on how her work can be applied to the big picture of food safety and a window into the usdas inner workings
i think itll be really interesting to be able to collaborate with people at usda in the fsis program she said since they are going to be connecting me with scientific experts who are specific to my research they will be able to give me valuable information about my project its going to help me brainstorm some more on in-depth ways to go about my research and think about some problems i hadnt thought about before
nickodem is not without a mentor at texas a&m however
when joining the biomedical sciences phd program in the epidemiology infection and immunology track she had originally intended to rotate through multiple labs before making her pick however a shared interest in epidemiology sparked an instant connection between nickodem and dr keri norman an assistant professor at the cvmbs
when i interviewed with her we just kind of clicked she said i emailed her after the interview saying ‘would it be ok if i could be in your lab rather than doing a lab rotation and she was all for it
norman already had a grant from the national cattlemans beef association through which nickodem began working with salmonella and beef cattle feedlots to develop intervention strategies against the harmful pathogen
it was norman who first encouraged nickodem to apply for the fsis orise fellowship suggesting that her research interests aligned well with the programs goals
the fsis orise fellowship is a tremendous opportunity for colette and i am eager for her to share the information she learns about public policy and other duties of fsis scientists with her fellow lab mates and colleagues said norman
nickodem says she initially was not aware of how prestigious this fellowship was when first applying but she is grateful for the opportunity and the support her mentors at the cvmbs have provided
regardless of what position it is i have to put the same amount of effort in and thats what i plan on doing she said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the students wear maroon say ‘howdy watch the aggie football games and even leave pennies on a campus landmark for good luck
so in some ways the biomedical sciences (bims) students at the texas a&m higher education center in mcallen arent all that different from the ones in college station
after all one of the goals according to dr elizabeth crouch cvmbs associate dean of undergraduate education is to bring the same quality education and experience that the students in college station get
what many people may not realize is that in the same way that galveston is part of the texas a&m college station campus the higher education center at mcallen is also she said what that means is that biomedical sciences as a major has two physical locations theyre not a different major; theyre not even a different campus theyre aggies and theyre biomedical sciences studentsthey are just physically located in mcallen
in practice of course there are differences the bims program in mcallen is only in its third year of existence and has an enrollment of 73 students for the fall 2020 semester
there are three full-time cvmbs faculty members in mcallen currently teaching 13 different courses for this semester though with many classes at both campuses being taught at least partially virtually several faculty members from college station have been able to reach students there to bolster that number
one of the things that we didnt want to do was to make it a telecommuter school and we never had any intention of classes being taught solely online crouch said but having said that it adds some depth for example guest speakers who are from all over the united states and really are top people in their fields can speak one time and reach two campuses it adds additional course opportunities that we wouldnt have had previously
right now the mcallen campus has just one main building which makes it naturally have an interdisciplinary feel in march when faculty got together to talk about covid-19 and its potential impacts they were able to come at the problem from a number of angles because they had two faculty members from the cvmbs as well as faculty from texas a&ms school of public health college of liberal arts college of engineering and college of science all take part
this interdisciplinary group really talked about the virus and what the possible public health impacts were going to be crouch said it was really nice for them to be able to quickly put that group together
the students are already forming student organizations and naturally gravitated to things that impact them so its no surprise that one of the earliest student organizations to pop up in mcallen is the border pre-med society which is in its first year
since their organizations cant meet in person right now a couple of them have actually had virtual meetings with their fellow students in college station including the biomedical sciences association (bsa)
the bsa which is the second largest student organization at texas a&m has set up family groups that allow students get to know their peers there is also emphasis on peer tutoring and networking to help support each other that ability to network with their peers and build up a support system are especially valuable in mcallen where over 60 percent of the students are first generation college students
according to academic adviser josette gonzalez that family atmosphere is a big part of the culture at the growing campus
one thing i really like about main campus is that we say were an aggie family and thats true she said however whenever you are a student or a faculty member at the higher education center at mcallen your experience is intimate all the way around
many students choose mcallen because they have responsibilities at home which also adds to that culture of family
a lot of the times our students here in the valley wear multiple hats gonzalez said not only are they first-generation college students attending a top-tier institution but theyre also caregivers
we have students who live in multi-generational homes she said they may be helping taking care of their elderly family and then also now with the pandemic we have a lot of our students who are assisting their siblings with their coursework since theyre staying at home due to covid ive had many students who have siblings online with them when they join for zoom sessions
among the first students to graduate with a bims degree from mcallen in may is senior roberto lopez hes a year ahead of most of the mcallen bims students because he started in 2017 as an engineering student before the higher education center was even completed that year the students were being taught at south texas college
when we finally got the new building it was just like ‘oh my goodness we are actually part of a&m he said we started seeing the change we started with 38 students and then after that its been growing little by little its been amazing; the transition from that first year to that second year was kind of like ‘whoa it was impactful for us
more growth is on the way the cvmbs goal is to have around 200 students in mcallen and other colleges are also expected to join and expand their offers in mcallen in the coming years
i know that the mcallen campus is meant to grow crouch said right now its one building but it will continue to grow i think were going to see pretty significant growth there over the next 10 years or so
i hope that it will be a premiere place to look at one health in the rio grande valley in a way that is really impactful she said having a footprint for biomedical sciences in south texas is just really dynamite im very very excited about the future
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
over the course of only a century humanity has made an observable impact on the genetic diversity of the lion population
thats the conclusion of a recently published study in the journal molecular biology and evolution by drs caitlin curry and james derr from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs)
by comparing dna of lions today to lions from 100 years ago they came across the unexpected answer that there is clear genetic evidence of recent population fragmentation which is where groups of a species are isolated from each other this fragmentation could ultimately have a long-term impact on the genetic health of the iconic species
i was surprised at what we foundsurprised and disappointed because its not what i wanted to see derr said i really wanted to be able to tell everyone that the management weve been doing for the last 100 years is perfect and to keep doing what weve been doing and everything will be fine but thats not the take-home lesson; unfortunately thats not the story we can tell
curry and derr started their study with one overarching questionhas the genetic structure of lion populations changed over the last 100 years
there have been several studies on modern lions so gathering data for the modern populations were straightforward curry pulled together dna data from three previously published studies on lions that lived between 1990-2012
the historical populations against which they wanted to compare the modern lion dna provided more of a challenge fortunately scientists have a way to turn back time as evidence that perhaps everything has a silver lining the collecting of lions for museums and private collections early in the last century has given scientists a way to analyze the historic genetic makeup of lion populations
many of those lion remains still reside perfectly preserved in collections around the world curry used dna extracted from bones teeth and hides of 143 lions that lived between 1880-1949 to create a historical population data set
both population data sets cover the same geographical range from india to southern africa where lions are found scientists call this type of analysis comparing data from the same space at different times a spatiotemporal study
it has been understood for a long time that female lions tend to stay close to the pride in which they were born while males travel great distances to find new prides therefore males are almost exclusively responsible for the movement of genes in the population which helps keep genetic diversity within the species high
as the human population continues to rapidly grow across africa and more and more barriers to lion movement have gone up in the form of cities fences and farmland male lions havent been able to travel the distances they once could
according to curry while lions are still genetically diverse right now the results in the dna were more pronounced than she expected
in the historical population you couldnt easily identify where a lion was from based on its nuclear dna this is due to high historical levels of gene flow across the population she said but in the modern population you can determine the general area or sub-population for most of the lions but even with sub-populations being more isolated the overall level of genetic diversity is still considered high across all lion populations
if lions are still generally genetically healthy today then why does this matter
over the last 100 years or so we have restricted the natural movements of many species derr said this isolation leads to reduced gene flow and ultimately may result in reducing genetic diversity to a level that threatens the survival of local populations
perhaps the most well-known example of what happens with a lack of genetic diversity is another large cat the african cheetah
according to genetic analysis scientists believe cheetahs have suffered two large bottleneck events or events that lead to a rapid shrinking of the gene pool when these events happen it results in the breeding of closely related individuals in the population or inbreeding creating very low genetic diversity
this has led to a current cheetah population that even in the wild struggles to fend off new diseases has difficulty breeding and faces other significant health problems
but that fate can still be avoided in lions especially now that experts are armed with proof that lion populations have been significantly impacted by isolation and subdivision
this should not be a disheartening story but rather one of hope said curry yes we see a decrease in genetic diversity across lion populations over the past century but currently compared with other mammalian species lion genetic diversity is still considered high across all lion populations
with responsible management focused on giving prides enough space to breed and allowing males to move more freely between isolated pockets it is possible to increase the genetic diversity and reduce population sub-division across lion populations
there have been multiple reintroduction programs bringing lions back to areas where lions once roamed and coexistence strategies are increasingly being integrated into wildlife conservation programs
the positive take-home message is now that weve documented this and we understand it policies can be tailored to manage these populations differently derr said we know now that you cant treat all lions the same now we have the responsibility to manage these animals and many other managed wildlife species in ways that better reflects their current biology
derr is a professor and the director of the dna technologies core laboratory in the cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) curry a doctoral candidate at the time of the study is now a research coordinator in conservation genetics at the san diego zoo institute for conservation research
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) and agents from the texas a&m agrilife extension returned home on saturday after a month-long deployment to butte county california where the team cared for more than 500 animals displaced by the ongoing wildfires

the animals were spread across three shelter locations each with a variety of medical and logistical needs in total more than 18 vet and agrilife team members deployed
according to vet director dr wesley bissett the fact that it was an out-of-state deployment increased the complexity of the operation
out-of-state deployments represent unique challenges for the vet-agrilife team he said rotation of personnel is much more difficult and that is always a concern particularly when you need additional help the distance and travel plans just complicate what we do
the ongoing threat of additional fires was another unique challenge during the deployment
we were here a month and havent seen a drop of rain bissett said the area is incredibly dry right now and it placed us in the difficult place of working toward ending operations while simultaneously being ready to start a whole new operation there have been two fires that if not for the quick actions of firefighters would have seen us increasing our animal numbers
while quickly integrating with the local response team can also be a challenge sometimes faced during a deployment because the team had previously deployed to butte county in 2018 that wasnt a problem in fact according to ryan soulsby the incident commander overseeing the animal response operation and a butte county senior animal control officer the reaction when texas a&m answered the call for help was one of immediate relief
when we received the phone call from texas a&m saying that they were responding to the request we had a celebration in the operations center soulsby said
many of the local responders some of whom lived in the evacuated area had been working long days for three straight weeks and the texas a&m teams arrival allowed those members to finally take a break along with the operational assistance though soulsby said one of the great things about working with the vet and agrilife team is the shared value of how important animals are to their owners
every owned animal is like their child he said texas a&m comes in and feels the same way they take care of these animals like they are their own the animals are stressed they dont know whats going on and their humans are stressed but we take care of them one step at a time
another unusual aspect of this deployment is that because it was an out-of-state deployment and covid-19 protocols were in place texas a&m students could not deploy with the team but that didnt stop the teaching mission of the vet
students from the university of california davis student veterinary emergency response teama student-run extracurricular organizationdeployed to assist the vet medical team according to co-president and third-year veterinary student claire stuhlmann the experiences theyve had over the last several weeks are invaluable
its been awesome learning from a new group of veterinarians responders and technicians she said our students have been learning so much texas a&m has a really well-developed and well-trained team and have been doing this a long time so its a really great opportunity to learn and see how a well-oiled machine is run
the relationships built during deployments dont stop when the event winds down the already-established relationship with butte county made it easy for the team to deploy and the same is true on the teaching sidethere are already plans being made for the teams and students at uc davis and texas a&m to meet and continue learning from one another
in texas theres a definite commitment to animals and theres a high level of expertise that weve built up; sharing that expertise just makes sense bissett said when we go somewhere we come back with lessons that make our texas response better and thats true hereweve learned a lot and those lessons are going to come home and make us better and make texas better
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while many students are drawn to veterinary medicine because of their love for animals those who take the time to explore the field are often impressed by the expanding world of veterinary entrepreneurship
the veterinary entrepreneurship academy (vea) was designed to expose students to those opportunities through a 10-week summer program that combines virtual classroom learning with an internship at a veterinary startup company
five texas a&m students four of whom are from the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) participated in the 2020 vea to expand their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship
students interested in participating in the vea during the summer of 2021 can request more information on the vea website
anna blick a third-year veterinary student from college station plans to pursue a career in diagnostics and research when the vea matched her with the veterinary biotech company zomedica which makes feline and canine medical devices for clinical veterinarians she saw it as the perfect opportunity to learn more about her interests at a real company
i got to see the inner workings of what happens inside one of those companies which was huge for me because i dont think i would have ever gotten an opportunity to see that outside of the vea blick said it really allowed me to get a more specific perspective on exactly what goes on and thats allowed me to add to a widening perspective of what veterinary medicine can be and how you can apply your degree
at zomedica blick spent time in each area of the company from marketing to research to data analysis for one project she worked with the company to evaluate the performance of a new diagnostic test
they were in the very beginning stages of getting data back from partner institutions blick said i applied statistics with the research team to help show zomedica where they were at i also worked with the marketing team to determine different places they wanted to market themselves as a company
every other week i met with the ceo and we were given discussion topics that fostered really good conversations blick said it was really surprising to me how much the company itself was invested in me and wanted me to get the most out of this as possible
blick plans to use the business skills she learned this summer as she continues on the path toward her career in research now that she knows the behind-the-scenes workings of a research and development company she feels even more prepared to pursue her goals
i started doing research when i was an undergrad and i realized that theres a lot of satisfaction with being able to produce a product that gets applied in a clinic blick said you can actually see the benefits to community health within a population of animals and a population of humans
after isamar lara a third-year veterinary student from san antonio moved to the united states from mexico city as a young child she watched her parents start their own business from the ground up seeing how hard they worked encouraged her to learn more about business as she pursued veterinary medicine
she became active in aggies invent: veterinary medicine and the veterinary business management association before jumping at the chance to work with a startup company for the 2020 vea
while working with pethub a company that specializes in pet id tags lara spent much of her time doing market research and talking to veterinarians across the country about their thoughts on rabies tags
i called veterinary clinics and asked them what issues they have with the tag what their pain points are and what they wish that we could change lara said my company wanted to see if they were interested in using our tags as rabies tags which would allow someone who finds a dog to have our tag scanned and then automatically get the records that say it is vaccinated for rabies
she then compiled her findings into a report that the company can use when developing their new product
lara first developed her love for animals while living in mexico city where she noticed a large number of lost dogs that never found their way home she and her brother created a facebook page to help owners find their lost pets which eventually led to her decision to pursue a career as a veterinarian
now shes considering using her new skills to open her own business too
before the vea i didnt think i was going to own my own business because i didnt have the tools or the confidence but after doing this internship i have the confidence and want to own my own business lara said
the two major things i learned are that its ok to ask for help and its ok to fail and try again she said i think students should definitely consider participating in the vea because even if you dont think you need any experience in business you do
madelyn newland a junior pre-veterinary animal science major from fort worth first developed an interest in entrepreneurship while creating a project for aggies invent: veterinary medicine in 2019 after presenting her project at the veterinary innovation summit later that spring she learned of the vea and knew she needed to apply
stephanie young (a vea alumna) was one of the speakers at the summit and when she spoke on behalf of skypaws her company it blew my mind that a girl a year above me was already ceo of her own company newland said it also deviated so much from the standard that i had thought we all had to follow that was a really eye-opening experience; thats why i was so driven to seek out the vea and put myself out there into this new realm of business and entrepreneurship
this summer newland worked with dripvet an online continuing education platform that strives to help veterinarians reach financial success
our overall goal is to reduce suicide rates in the veterinary profession by educating people about their financial options and their abilities to bring themselves out of debt and function in a profession that has a very low margin of error newland said
i served as their pre-veterinary student ambassador this summer and worked with them a lot on reaching pre-veterinary students she said we revamped their social media developed a presence on linkedin and started reaching our hand into the pre-veterinary societies across the nation
as she prepares to begin applying to veterinary schools newland has a fresh outlook on the possibilities within veterinary medicine and a greater confidence to pursue them
coming into college i never allowed myself to even consider operating in the business sector because i didnt feel that i was capable or had the background for it newland said now i actually feel that if i wanted to start a business i could do it im much more confident and ive lost so much of that fear that i wouldnt be able to operate in such a competitive sector
newland encourages fellow students to pursue opportunities like the vea even if they dont plan to have a career in business
keep your goals alive and work toward them but dont be afraid to branch out particularly in business and technology because those sectors are advancing in leaps and bounds even ahead of medicine at times and thats something we need to be involved in she said
gabriela vega a third-year veterinary student from el paso spent many years traveling for school and visiting veterinary clinics in texas colorado and hawaii she entered veterinary school thinking that most veterinarians spent all day in clinics but soon discovered a whole other world in veterinary innovation and entrepreneurship
i like to talk about veterinary medicine as a pie vega said i used to think that being a clinician was the whole pie and then i got into veterinary school and saw that its clearly a very small sliver of veterinary medicine
during the 2020 vea vega worked with harbor a networking platform like linkedin that is exclusively for veterinarians and veterinary students
my project was to reach out to create a student ambassador program at every veterinary school in the country vega said i did a lot of zoom time interviewing second- and third-year veterinary students from all the veterinary schools and that was not what i was expecting out of this internship but it was a super cool experience that i had never gotten before
at the beginning of this program my goal was to be open minded and to learn anything that i could vega said ive learned so much about the business side of veterinary medicine i got to see the behind-the-scenes parts of the company and then at the same time understand the value of all those behind-the-scenes pieces
after the 10-week internship harbor asked vega to join their team as the director of student ambassadors giving her the opportunity to continue working with the company as she finishes veterinary school
after she graduates vega plans to pursue a career as a small animal emergency practitioner eventually opening several clinics of her own now that she knows essential skills like how to plan her businesses with a business model canvas she feels even more prepared to do so
knowing who my customer segments are and really understanding every piece of the whole clinic will be important she said i also now know that there are other people to reach out to when going through that process
when katie zimmerman a second-year veterinary student from dallas was planning her summers during veterinary school she decided that rather than working in clinics each year she could get a wider range of experiences by participating in the 2020 vea
she spent her summer partnered with roo an online relief work platform for veterinarians helping them reach out to students and improve their familiarity with the concept of relief work (when veterinarians provide services to clinics on an as-needed basis)
i was trying to help roo get their foot in the door when it comes to reaching students at a&m because right now its just a company in houston and dallas so its a really specific group of students we were trying to reach out to before expanding to other areas she said
i also joined in on their weekly team meetings she said i was honored that they really valued my opinion as a member of their target audience because most of them were not actually from the field of veterinary medicine and my experiences allowed me to bring in a different perspective
zimmerman encourages first-year veterinary students to begin exploring the many areas within veterinary medicine as soon as possible especially those that cannot be learned as easily in a clinic
i can master iv catheter placements down the road but ill never again have an opportunity to work with a startup and see how detailed and important it is to create a business based off of certain types of values she said getting through veterinary school is challenging and i think when you expose yourself to so many different things in veterinary medicine you can get closer to what you want to do
as for what she wants to do after veterinary school zimmerman is still deciding but now has a brighter outlook on the future no matter what she chooses
i dont know exactly what im wanting to do after i graduate but i know i want to work with small animals zimmerman said i feel a lot more secure after the vea knowing that i dont have to have my path 100% solidified at any point its ok to graduate and give myself opportunities to find out what i really want to do it was really cool to learn that i dont have to put myself in a box and that i can do other things and still be a veterinarian
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story by megan myers cvmbs communications
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
drs gregory johnson and william murphy both professors in the department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) have been named chancellor enhancing development and generating excellence in scholarship (edges) fellows by the texas a&m university system
launched in 2019 edges fellowships were developed with resources from texas a&m university system chancellor john sharp to honor incentivize and boost mid-career faculty at the associate or early full professor rank who are making significant marks in their discipline
we are delighted to have two faculty members in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences to be selected as 2020 chancellor edges fellows said dr john august cvmbs dean dr gregory johnson and dr william murphy are testaments to the outstanding research being conducted in the cvmbs and we are proud that their significant scholarly accomplishments hard work and dedication to achieving their goals have been recognized with this very selective honor
vibs department head dr todd ohara said that their impact extends to everyone they work with at the college
in addition to their long inventory of accolades and accomplishments they are kind and generous colleagues and fine teachers and mentors for students postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members ohara said
murphy who earlier this year was also named a university professor has been with the cvmbs since 2004 and even though he has received a number of awards in the past he said he still wasnt expecting his recent recognitions
my initial reaction was one of surprise murphy said but i am certainly honored and humbled to have been selected by the university for this honor i would not have been selected if not for the outstanding students and staff great colleagues at a&m collaborators at other institutions and administrative support by the department heads and the dean throughout my career at a&m
murphy is internationally recognized for his longstanding contributions to feline health through genomics research for which he received the 2013 american veterinary medical foundation/winn feline foundation excellence in research award
in a 2011 edition of the journal science murphy published the results of a five-year national science foundation-sponsored project that established the first resolved phylogeny a history of organismal lineages as they change through time of all mammalian families other investigators now refer to the phylogenetic trees conceptualized in these papers as murphy trees which have become key features in leading mammalogy textbooks
dr murphy previously received the prestigious 2009 joann treat research excellence award given by the board of trustees of the texas a&m research foundation and the 2010 texas a&m university association of former students distinguished achievement award in research
he was more recently appointed the title of presidential impact fellow in the first class of inductees in 2017
johnson has been with the cvmbs since 2002 and continues to develop a strong collaborative research program focused on reproduction in a variety of species he is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in the study of implantation and placentation in domestic livestock
according to johnson his goal as a research scientist is to serve society by advancing understanding of the processes that affect reproductive health to benefit human agricultural animal and companion animal reproduction
my honest first reaction and my continued reaction to receiving the edges award is that i am very humbled by the professional recognition and the significant efforts others made to make this a reality johnson said i love science research academia and knowledgeand my modest ambition has always been to continue to be privileged to ‘play in the sandbox with my dump truck
johnson has previously received cvmbs outstanding alumni awards for outstanding mentor for graduate students and/or postdoctoral research associates in 2014 and 2016 the association of former students (afs) college-level distinguished achievement in research award in 2020 the afs college-level distinguished achievement in teaching award in 2013 the vice chancellors award in excellence for diversity and the vice chancellors award in excellence for team research in 2005
other honors include receiving the excellence in reviewing award from the journal placenta in 2016 and being elected to the board of directors for the society for the study of reproduction in 2016
the edges recognition highlights texas a&ms intentional commitment to intensively support retain and recognize faculty with significant and sustained accomplishments and the promise of continued high-impact scholarship
these awards recognize the priority of texas a&m university system chancellor john sharp to develop and support faculty members with national and international acclaim said provost and executive vice president carol a fierke the honorees are scholars with careers on-track to make high-impact contributions to enhance the state and nation leading to national and international recognition
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
canyon oct 5 2020 the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program a partnership between the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and west texas a&m university (wt) has hired two new faculty to bring their extensive experience in the field and in the classroom to the students veterinarians livestock producers and citizens of the texas panhandle
dr benjamin newcomer a dairy cattle expert and dr jenna funk an expert in beef cattle production will support the fourth-year veterinary students who choose to participate in clinical rotations in canyon and the surrounding areas
the texas a&m university system has put its full backing behind the vero program and these top-notch hires are evidence that we are serious about its success said john sharp chancellor of the texas a&m university system
dr newcomer and dr funk bring a wealth of experience knowledge and research expertise to the vero team and the work they will do through teaching and research will have a tremendous impact on texas a&m students and as importantly the citizens of the texas panhandle and high plains region said dr john august cvmbs dean understanding the impact of management decisions on animal health as well as on human health and the global environment requires a ‘one health approach to livestock stewardship and these two new professors will play a key role in ensuring the next generation of veterinarians understand this as well
we are delighted to welcome drs newcomer and funk to the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and vero faculty they bring to our program an exciting combination of dairy and feedlot practice experience and teaching skills said dr susan eades head of the cvmbs large animal clinical sciences department these faculty are extremely dedicated to the sustainability of livestock industries and to the education of the next generation of veterinarians they will teach rotations to fourth-year students in rural dairy feedlot and cow-calf practices preparing students for food animal and rural careers that will benefit these important practice areas
newcomer will join the vero team in november from auburn university where he completed a residency in internal medicine and a phd in biomedical sciences and since 2013 has been a faculty member
board certified by the american college of veterinary internal medicine the american college of veterinary preventive medicine and the american board of toxicology newcomer also has six years of experience in private dairy practice
the 2002 university of florida graduate brings strengths in herd health medicine infectious disease control veterinary clinical instruction and health care worker training
newcomer said that texas a&ms tradition speaks for itself and made the position one that he was immediately interested in
there are a lot of things that attracted me to this position newcomer said certainly the history and tradition of texas a&m is unrivaled and well known theyre known for producing quality veterinary graduates and the vero program is geographically situated in a growing area where there are lots of cattle where students can get hands-on experience
vero director dr dee griffin said newcomers expertise in dairy veterinary management will have a tremendous impact on the cvmbs efforts in the region he also pointed out that while many know of texas contribution to the beef industry texas is also the fifth largest dairy producing state and 80% of all dairy produced in texas is produced in the panhandle and the high plains
dr newcomer is perhaps the most academically prepared clinical dairy management professor in the united states he said the extremely large dairies such as we have in this region are extremely sophisticated dr newcomer also is one of the few in the united states that the college could have recruited who are capable of navigating the level of expertise required to work with dairies of this magnitude and be able to develop a dairy clinical veterinary and management program for our cvmbs students
griffin witnessed funks work ethic first hand when funk was a student enrolled in a feeder cattle veterinary clinical skills and management summer education program at which funk spent 60-80 hours a week learning tasks ranging from ultrasound pregnancy exams to cleaning the water tanks
dr funk is not only an extremely talented beef veterinarian but she also has a love for students he said the opportunities for her here are tremendous over 25% of all of the beef eaten in the united states comes from within a two-hour drive of our vero facility combining that opportunity with dr funks expertise will provide unique clinical and livestock management opportunities for our veterinary students
an iowa state university graduate funk received extensive training in beef cattle medicine at the clay center and as a feedlot intern both in nebraska she also taught veterinary students on clinical rotations as a post-doctoral student at iowa state
she is currently an ambulatory animal health veterinary practitioner and production animal consultant for metzger veterinary services in linwood ontario
for funk the attraction came in the opportunity to help the students find the same passion that she did when she was exposed to real-world experiences as a student
what really appealed to me was their drive to put students on the farms and in real-life situations she said the cooperation they have with mixed animal practices down there and the relationships theyre building with the big commercial feedlots and the big commercial dairies theyre really trying to give the students a very much real-world experience of what theyre going to run into when they get out into practice
a lot of times at universities we live inside this ‘university bubble filled with advanced research and advanced technology and being on the cutting edge of everything and then you get out into the real world and you realize that not every practice has digital x-ray and not every practice has an mri so youve got to figure out what youre going to do when you dont have those technologies around
newcomer and funk are among the 12-13 new hires the cvmbs plans to make in support of the fourth-year clinical rotations and the new 2+2 doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program and are part of a $5 million commitment to support hiring by the texas a&m university system
we know the success of any academic program is built on the foundation of excellent faculty said dr walter wendler wt president we are pleased with the partnership of texas a&m university and west texas a&m university supported by chancellor john sharp and the texas a&m university system board of regents our teamwork is attractive to high-caliber people these programs will serve the texas panhandle with distinction because of the faculty
fourth-year clinical rotations in the texas panhandle coordinated at the vero facility include feedlots dairies and rural veterinary practices through which students can get hands-on experience working in areas in which there is a critical need for veterinarians announced in september 2019 the 2+2 dvm program will allow veterinary students to complete their first and second years at the vero facility before completing the third and part of their fourth years at the cvmbs in college station; the first cohort of up to 18 students participating in the 2+2 program will begin classes at vero in the fall of 2021
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler senior communications specialist wt cchandler@wtamuedu 806-651-2124
from an integrated and inclusive curriculum to initiatives that make higher education accessible to students at all levels and training opportunities for faculty and staff the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusion is multifaceted
for the cvmbs efforts over the years the college has been one of only two veterinary schools across the united states to be recognized with three consecutive health professions higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award
on thursday oct 1 insight into diversity magazine announced that the cvmbs is again one of two veterinary colleges to earn a fourth consecutive heed award joining three other veterinary colleges and the texas a&m college of dentistry as 2020 recipients
we are thrilled that our diversity and inclusion efforts have been recognized with a fourth heed award said dr john august cvmbs dean the cvmbs operates like a jigsaw puzzle with every member of our community serving as an important piece that when we come all together creates a beautiful picture we take very seriously the responsibility of fostering an environment that supports everybodys success and continuing to look for new areas in which we can improve
the health professions heed awards are presented annually in recognition of us colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion
all 46 recipients of this years health professions heed awardrepresenting us medical dental pharmacy osteopathic nursing veterinary allied health and other health schools and centerswill be featured in the december issue of insight into diversity magazine texas a&m university was also named a 2020 heed award recipient as a diversity champion for the second consecutive year
in addition to programs and trainings this year the cvmbs diversity & inclusion office has initiated a number of activities designed to promote inclusion diversity and access
those include weekly well-being emails sent by executive associate dean and d&i director dr kenita rogers throughout the covid-19 pandemic a new monthly diversity & inclusion digest enewsletter and the newly formed committee on inclusion diversity equity and accountability (c-idea) charged with promoting a welcoming inclusive and respectful environment for all individuals within the college community
another highlight of this year was the i am cvm video series that celebrated the uniqueness of more than 40 cvmbs faculty staff and students through short video testimonials while reinforcing that all are connected through the college
these new initiatives expand upon the colleges strong student and college organizations that are dedicated to supporting a welcoming learning environment these include the graduate student association which provides consistent multicultural programming; voice (veterinarians as one inclusive community for empowerment) a student-run organization that addresses socio-cultural awareness among veterinary students faculty and staff; and broad spectrum (pride) which works to connect support and empower lgbtq+ veterinary students and allies
in addition the veterinary student-led cvmbs white coats are dedicated to maintaining a culture of universal acceptance and selfless leadership in order to preserve the ideals of inclusion and excellence within the cvmbs
the heed award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employeesand best practices for bothcontinued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion said lenore pearlstein publisher of insight into diversity magazine we take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a heed award recipient our standards are high and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus
for more information about the 2020 health professions heed award visit insightintodiversitycom

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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
oroville california oct 1 2020 – on most deployments of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) the worst of the emergency situation has already passed and the role of the vet is to help with recovery efforts
that was the situation in california as the team arrived to butte county california last weekend three emergency shelters two for small animals and one large animals had been set up and the team arrived to help relieve the local staff many of whom had been working 12-hour days for more than two weeks straight
but the wildfires are an ongoing emergency situation and the situation can rapidly change
shortly after returning to their base camp on sunday night the team received word that the fire had jumped causing the evacuation of new areas and the need for a fourth animal shelter to be built the next morning
disaster response requires sudden decision-making that is founded in preparatory planning said vet director dr wesley bissett there is an old military saying about a battle plan not lasting after the first shot the key is that you have thought through the process butte county was able to rapidly identify a new shelter location because they were prepared the texas a&m vet was able to design and set up the shelter because we have so much experience in emergency planning
logistics and administration arent the most exciting parts of emergency response but they are crucial roles the vet is playing in california
the people of butte county are wonderful and we will forever consider them family bissett said they have been working so hard for so long that it is rewarding to be able to come in provide them consistency in management and give them a break
more than 500 animalsincluding dogs cats pigs horses chickens sheep goats llamas rabbits and birdsare being cared for across the four locations some animals are in the shelters because the owners evacuated and cant take them while others were found by search and rescue teams
the vet members are providing excellent veterinary medical care in the shelters said bissett the reality is that you have to take care of injuries caused by the incident but then also provide preventive and therapeutic care for illnesses that can develop in an emergency shelter situation
the team is expecting to remain in california for several more weeks
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
nine members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) and six agents from the texas a&m agrilife extension service will be deploying to butte county california on saturday to help care for animals displaced by the ongoing wildfires
the vet deployed to the same area in december 2018 to provide oversight on sheltering inventory and data management veterinary medical support for injured and ill animals and efforts to reunite animals with their owners
our deployment to the camp wildfires in december 2018 and january 2019 set the stage for this request said vet director dr wesley bissett we have a close working relationship with the community we are being deployed to and our capabilities are well known to them
our primary role will be to provide consistency in operational management and veterinary medical care he said they have an outstanding group of people at the local level and i know we will all work together for the sake of the animals their owners and butte county california
the teams mission will be to support three area shelters that have taken in almost 500 animals that have been displaced by the wildfires the vet will bring their experience in managing emergency shelters and situations to help ease the stress being put on the local responders the initial team deploying includes four veterinarians two veterinary technicians and three logistics and support personnel
anytime you go into out-of-state deployments there is an element of uncertainty that is based on being so distant from the impact area bissett said there is always a discovery phase during which you work to understand specifically what is needed so that your team can contribute to the success of the jurisdiction you are serving
this isnt the first time this year that the vet has assisted with the ongoing wildfire efforts dr deb zoran vet member and professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences recently deployed to oregon to assist with fema incident support team (ist) search and rescue dogs working in a particularly hazardous area
for updates on the deployment follow the vet on facebook (@tamuvet) and twitter (@tamuvet1) and at txag/vetteam
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a recent international study discovered that the new guinea singing dog a population thought to be extinct in the wild shares nearly its entire genetic identity with the new guinea highland dog a rarely seen wild population in the islands high-altitude mountain regions
according to dr brian davis a co-senior author of the study and a research assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) this suggests that the two dog populations diverged within the past few decades and are essentially from the same population
because the captive group of singing dogs is severely inbred this new information could support a conservation program with the potential to save the singing dogs and bring their population back from the brink of extinction
the research project began in 2018 when james mac macintyre the head of the new guinea highland wild dog foundation led an expedition into the mountains to collect blood samples from highland dogs
these samples were sent to davis who analyzed the highland dog dna and compared samples collected from captive singing dogs named for their unique vocalizations that resemble a wolf howl combined with a whale song
we assessed about 200 000 genetic markers across the genome davis said once we sampled these markers my colleague heidi parker at the national institutes of health whos a fantastic canine geneticist compared these markers with more than 1 500 other dogs
we basically did an all-to-all comparison to find their place in the tree of life for dogs he said when we found out that the highland dogs were most similar to the singing dogs we knew we had something
he discovered that while all dogs in oceania (the geographical region including australia new guinea and nearby islands) descend from the same ancestral population the singing and highland dogs have a highly similar genomes as well the highland dogs do not appear significantly hybridized with any other population of dog reinforcing their unique place in dog evolution
in addition to advancing the knowledge of the singing dog population this project also inspired many questions to fuel future studies
now were trying to understand the timing in which each oceania population branched off davis said thats going to be the subject of some future work especially when we get more samples we also hope to understand where these dogs are along the domestication continuum
about 50 years ago scientists brought a small number of singing dogs into captivity and though there are more individuals living in zoos today they are all descended from the initial founders and have extremely low genetic diversity
davis hopes that genetic material from the wild highland dog population can be used to improve genetic health among the captive singing dogs and rebuild their population
having a higher genetic diversity is essential to long-term survival davis said the singing dogs in captivity are derived from only a small number of individuals and theyre very inbred these highland wild dogs are the only dogs like them the singing dogs may look similar to dogs like the dingo but they have novel vocalizations and behaviors that no other dog has even the way that they walk is different
while the effort to rebuild the singing dog population will take many years davis believes it is a worthwhile cause to preserve the unique species
as an evolutionary biologist i want to conserve everything that exists davis said its important that these animals be conserved and that we study them and understand their population we need to appreciate the adaptations that theyve undergone that no other dog has and potentially help protect them as the environment changes and they have to change with it
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr artem rogovskyy an assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) is a recipient of the bay area lyme foundations 2020 emerging leader award for his interdisciplinary work in developing a rapid highly sensitive portable cost-effective and single sample-based lyme disease (ld) diagnostic assay
ld is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi the most common vector-borne disease in the united states it affects roughly 329 000 americans annually mild cases produce a bulls-eye rash fever chills headache fatigue muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes while more advanced cases can cause more serious symptoms such as severe joint pain and neurological problems
management of ld is heavily reliant on timely diagnosis and treatment which means accurate and accessible testing is instrumental to preventing persistent treatment-resistant infections
in the us the only validated approach for ld diagnosis is a two-tiered serology these tests have drawbacks including that the sensitivity and specificity of these tests vary greatly dependent of the stage of infection
furthermore existing tests have cross-reactivity with other pathogens meaning they may yield an ld-positive result when the patient is actually harboring a different bacterium these existing tests also have low sensitivity during the first weeks of infection where the patient is still developing antibodies
in this case a patient in the early stages of ld would falsely test negative
the 2020 emerging leader award grants rogovskyy and his collaborator access to the lyme disease biobank which will allow these researchers to validate their approach in human specimens
there is clearly an urgent need in the development of reliable direct-detection method whose performance should be better than that of the existing two-tier serological assay said rogovskyy
our proposal is conceptually innovative and is not based on incremental advance because there is no precedent of utilizing this approach in the diagnosis of human or animal infectious diseases in the published literature rogovskyy said this proposal is also unique as it is based on multidisciplinary expertise of a spirochetologist and a biophysicist/biochemist
rogovskyy and his colleagues aim to overturn the current paradigm of ld testing by using a spectroscopic technique to determine the presence of this pathogen by measuring the spectra produced the researchers were able to detect ld-positive mice with high accuracy in their preliminary experiments
our preliminary results demonstrated that the approach can well distinguish between infected and uninfected mice he said moreover the approach showed a great potential not only for detecting ld pathogen in blood but also identifying the stage of a borrelia burgdorferi infection (early vs late)
the novel assay will not only democratize ld testing by making it faster and cheaper but this more accurate test will also allow health workers to better track and treat this highly common disease
more timely diagnosis of ld is instrumental to preventing chronic treatment-resistant ld cases and rogovskyys research aims to provide a diagnostic that supports this higher standard of care which is made possible through the support of the bay area lyme foundation and emerging leader award
the bay area lyme foundation works to accelerate this type of research by recognizing new approaches and creative thinking; its emerging leader awards are presented annually to promising scientists who represent the future of ld research leadership
i am truly honored to have received this prestigious ela award from the bay area lyme foundation i know it is quite competitive and our team will do the best to achieve what has been proposed he said
on behalf of our team i would like to thank the bay area lyme foundation for funding our risky but promising project it is great that such a foundation exists as there are very few funding agencies that fund lyme disease research he said we are also thankful to the lyme disease biobank the unique repository of lyme disease samples the biobank has provided us with human blood samples which will allow us to objectively test the utility of our new approach
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an international team of researchers led by leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been able to reconstruct the origins of the male sex chromosome in the atlantic herring determining that the male-specific region of this genetic storehouse contains only three genes: a sex-determining factor and two genes for sperm proteins
this research provides further insight into how organisms develop into one sex or another and how the mechanisms for these developmental decisions are controlled genetically
chromosomes are structures of highly organized dna that serve as one book in an organisms biological library or genome sex chromosomes specifically play an important role in determining whether an organism develops as male or female the study of these structures is important as it allows us to understand the mechanism of sex-determination in development
however this research can be difficult as sex chromosomes degenerate quickly and have high rates of mutations the atlantic herring is unique in that both versions of its sex chromosomes (x and y) are almost identical in gene content
in a recent study published in pnas andersson and his colleagues based at uppsala university in sweden determined that the only difference between x and y was that the y chromosome found only in males has three additional genes: a sex-determining factor (bmpr1bby) and two sperm protein genes predicted to be essential for male fertility
by observing the structure of these three genes in the y chromosome the researchers were able to trace the molecular evolutionary path that led to the atlantic herrings current y chromosome reconstructing its birth in a piecewise fashion
this study is unique because we have been able to reconstruct the birth of a sex chromosome andersson said usually sex chromosomes evolved a long time ago like for human y and many changes have occurred that make it impossible to sort out the first critical steps that is exactly what we have done in the herring
researchers determined that two of these genes were introduced when extra copies were translocated or moved from one location to another to what became a male-specific region that cannot exchange genetic material with the x chromosome the sex chromosome found in both males and females the third gene was then introduced to this same region lost from the x chromosome
the version of bmpr1bby that researchers identified as a sex-determining factor contains about 50 mutations from the copy found on non-sex or autosomal chromosomes that do not act as sex-determining factors one function of this gene is to promote testis development and the version found on sex chromosomes has evolved the ability to act independently of some of the cofactors needed by the autosomal copies this provides a shortcut to testes development in the sex-determining version
this finding shows how a genetic variant can occur and affect the molecular machinery determining sex and drive the process in one direction male or female andersson said
the group next hopes to pursue a follow-up of this research that investigates the sprat genome a close relative of the atlantic herring this work would allow the researchers to validate their previous findings and make a more precise estimate of when this y chromosome evolved how stable it is and how quickly it evolves
this planned research will give insight how stable a newborn sex chromosome is andersson said has it evolved in parallel in the two species and if so has evolution taken different paths or has this mechanism been lost during the 5 million years or so when herring and sprat shared a common ancestor that must have had a more primitive form of this sex chromosome
the study was supported by the knut and alice wallenberg foundation vetenskapsrådet research council of norway project 254774 gensinc and aquacrispr (anr-16-cofa-0004-01) (to ah) it can be found at wwwpnasorg/cgi/doi/101073/pnas2009925117
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
rusyn and chiu professors in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) received nearly $800 000 for the study integrating tissue chips rapid untargeted analytical methods and molecular modeling for toxicokinetic screening of chemicals their metabolites and mixtures
this three-year project aims to use biological analytical and modeling methods to improve upon current in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation (ivive) a technique used in toxicology to determine how chemical exposures will impact an organism for common industrial compounds and pesticides
the importance of this project is that it addresses a very acute needto be able to extrapolate safe or unsafe concentrations of chemicals from experiments in cells to human oral dermal or inhalation exposures rusyn said
ivive which involves taking data learned from in vitro studies (those done outside a biological context or test tube experiments) and applying it to in vivo studies (those done on complete biological organisms) currently has numerous limitations for example researchers are typically forced to make many assumptions when converting in vitro data into applicable in vivo information
by working with dr erin baker from north carolina state university the team aims to reduce the uncertainty of traditional ivive approaches by using tissue chips to generate toxicokinetic (the study of at what rate a chemical will enter the body and what happens to it once it is in the body) data and then refining that data with analytical and modeling methods
what we propose is really different from other current solutions because we propose to use rather complicated cell-based models these so-called tissue chips rusyn said we want to see if replacing the current simplistic models with more complicated but also much more physiologically relevant models would actually improve the confidence in the type of data that we get for this ivive
because both rusyn and chiu lead the tissue chip validation center at texas a&m university this team is uniquely situated in the perfect environment for testing tissue chips that can represent multiple cell types tissues and organs allowing them to simulate absorption circulation and excretion of chemicals in the body
once developed into a peer-reviewed publication their research has the potential to be used by the epa and other agencies as a new method for testing chemical safety
these types of projects not only benefit the agencies that fund them and general research but also have a major benefit for trainees chiu said this research is very career empowering to our trainees because they understand that this is not simply interesting research; its also research that has a potential to make an impact
beginning this research during the covid-19 pandemic has the potential to cause setbacks but the researchers are determined to overcome any potential challenges and continue providing his trainees with the opportunity to contribute to the project
its very important for us that this university has a very clear set of rules as to how laboratory research is to be continued because a complete shutdown would be devastating not just for our ability to do research but also for our ability to make sure that our trainees are moving forward in their careers and getting their career goals accomplished rusyn said i think that its great that the vice president of research (at texas a&m) acted early on and decisively and were looking forward to continue having very strong leadership on this campus
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
researchers at texas a&m university have produced a therapeutic derived from turmeric a spice long-praised for its natural anti-inflammatory properties that shows promise in decreasing ocular inflammation in dogs suffering from uveitis an inflammation of the eye that leads to pain and reduced vision
uveitisa common condition in dogs humans and other speciescan have many causes often occurring secondary to infectious diseases cancer and autoimmune diseases; it also is found in patients with longstanding cataracts and after operations correcting cataracts
uncontrolled inflammation inside the eye also known as uveitis is a leading cause of complications after cataract surgery in dogs the management of postoperative ocular inflammation is a major challenge observed in both human and veterinary ophthalmology said dr erin scott an assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
in a recent paper published in science advances scott and her colleagues at the texas a&m college of pharmacy tested the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin a compound found in turmeric and discovered that when processed to a special nanoparticle formulation to boost absorption this natural compound is safe and effective at managing uveitis without any known side effects
oral medications currently used to treat uveitis must be adequately absorbed into the blood stream for their medicinal effects to be effective this requires the medication to successfully pass through the intestinal barrierthe physical barrier between the gut and the rest of the body via the circulatory systemwhich limits the absorption of many drugs
drug delivery to the eye presents additional challenges because of the blood-ocular barrierthe physical barrier between blood vessels and tissues of the eyewhich tightly controls what substances can pass into the eye
therefore researchers must find ways to bypass such barriers to improve drug availability within the body
scott and her colleagues research implemented a novel formulation of curcumin that improved transport of the substance across both intestinal and ocular barriers by adding nanoparticle molecules that interact with receptors on a ubiquitous transmembrane carrier protein known as the transferrin receptor curcumin is able to hitch a ride across crucial barriers improving absorption of the substance and reducing ocular inflammation
curcumin is especially attractive as a candidate for management of uveitis because it has no known side effects
current treatments include a combination of systemic and topical anti-inflammatory medications either in the form of steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) scott said while both these medications are effective in the treatment of uveitis they can cause unwanted side effects such as vomiting diarrhea stomach ulcers negatively impact kidney and liver function and increase glucose levels in diabetic patients
scott and her colleagues hope to start a clinical trial in the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital using this new medication in the near future and are optimistic that the utility of their findings may benefit populations beyond dogs
this medication may translate to the treatment of cataracts and uveitis in humans she said by studying animal patients with naturally occurring eye diseases our findings may accelerate the development of medications to benefit both animals and humans
this research received funding from the national institutes of health national eye institute (grants r01ey028169 & r01ca194391) and the national science foundation (grant ccf-1934904)
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a legacy of selfless service that started years ago during one natural disaster continues to help animals in need at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) the most recent recipient of this support is a donkey named jordan injured by the onalaska tornado this spring
harveighs heroes is a fund that was set up in memory of a calf named harveigh whose story went viral following hurricane harvey in 2017 after donations came in from all over the world to cover harveighs extended medical care at the large animal hospital (lah) her owner tammy canton set up the fund to help future animals and their owners
one recipient of the harveighs heroes fund was karen pruitt whose ranch was in the path of a tornado that touched down in polk county near onalaska texas in april unfortunately a few of pruitts donkeys didnt survive but that made her all the more determined to do everything in her power for the one that did
one that fateful day pruitt texas a&m class of 87 said that she initially didnt even notice that jordan was injured
she was just wandering around and really we thought she was just depressed after losing some of her donkey siblings pruitt said she just seemed really down and i was like ‘i dont blame you; i am too but then i noticed a little blood and i pulled her tail over and could see some grass coming out of a wound near her tail
pruitt called texas a&ms veterinary emergency team (vet) which had deployed to the area following the tornado and had already been out to her ranch upon their return they saw jordan had a deep puncture wound and advised pruitt to take jordan to the lah
in college station soft tissue surgeons cleaned the wound and after a few days of recovery jordan was back to herself
pruitt who had interacted with a number of vet members in onalaska and texas a&m veterinarians and staff in college station wasnt surprised by the quality of care and attention she received but she was surprised when she called the vmth to pay her bill
they told me how much it was and i said they had the wrong billit had to be more than what they were telling me considering how long jordan was there she said
thats when she was told that the harveighs heroes fund had helped with jordans care
because of the covid-19 pandemic when pruitt wanted to thank the person behind the fund she asked staff members at the vmth to organize a virtual meeting for her and canton
when the two finally connected it was an evening of tears and laughter as they bonded over their mutual love of animals and texas a&m
i burst out in tears when they first told me because it was so sweet; i told them that i have to meet whoever is behind harveighs heroes pruitt told canton what the veterinarians and their staff do is just so sweet and its so where my heart is
canton said she was glad the fund was able to help another animal lover
i was so excited i literally was almost in tears when i read jordans story she said
harveigh has since passed but canton said that after the outpouring of support she felt like she had to find a way to pay it forward
we got so many donations that it covered her entire bill even though she was at the hospital for six or seven weeks canton said so i thought to myself ‘i have to do something i have to give back to other families theres no way we would have been able to keep harveigh there as long as we did without the help of others
i feel like a piece of my sweet girl is living on through jordan for that i am grateful
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in 1998 discovering a horse in the field with a fractured pastern joint was a grim affair especially for an owner like ake eriksson who says his horses are more family members than animals
unfortunately thats what happened on june 19 of that year when eriksson learned that his horse choices unlimited had a shattered bone in his right-hind pastern (the joint above the hoof) the injury was first diagnosed by erikssons primary veterinarian dr conrad nightingale of hill country vet hospital in bandera
eriksson still remembers his conversation with nightingale that day
dr nightingale told me ‘ake the short pastern bone is in multiple pieces and i cannot save your horse however i have explained the situation to dr watkins at texas a&m and he believes that he can help us i will be up at your ranch in 30 minutes and when i get there you must decide on one of two optionseither i put him down or we splint his leg and get him to a&m eriksson recalls
at that time dr jeffrey watkins a professor of large animal surgery at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) and his colleagues at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) had been refining a new technique to reconstruct and allow the bone to heal using two metal bone plates and strategically placed screws
in his conversation with nightingale watkins said he believed this procedure could save erikssons horse eriksson was on board immediately
i told him i do not need 30 minutes to make that decision eriksson said we splint his leg and get him to dr watkins
according to watkins the most common treatment option at the time was to cast the horses leg an often unsuccessful and painful remedy
with that technique where the injured limb was simply put in a cast there was a high rate of complications many of which resulted in the horse not surviving watkins said if by luck the horse survived they were usually quite lame for the rest of their life; only rarely could they be ridden again
on june 25 choices became the 11th horse to be treated with a double plate fixation at the vmth the procedure was successful and choices is still functionally sound and doing well today 22 years later
while watkins said that texas a&m veterinarians were not the first to perform a double plate fixation to repair severe fractures of the middle phalanx (short pastern bone) collectively i think texas a&m can take a lot of credit for validating this procedure refining it and teaching it to the vast majority of equine surgeons in the country
this is important as it has taken this type of injury from having a very poor prognosis to being fixable
not only are the outcomes of a double plate fixation substantially better than casting but it also results in far fewer complications the horse has a shorter recovery time and is more comfortable much sooner watkins said
this procedure is more successful because by reconstructing the fracture and fusing the pastern joint using two plates stability is restored to the region so the fragments are rigidly fixed in position that restores comfort to the horse and reduces a lot of complications he said in addition it facilitates healing of the fracture and once healed increases the likelihood that the horse can be ridden again
double plate fixation is now the standard of care for severe fracture of the middle phalanx and watkins and his colleagues at the vmth have devoted a great deal of time and effort to raising awareness of this treatment option
texas a&m was at the front end of the curve from the standpoint of the procedure becoming known to the general practicing veterinary population watkins said ive presented this material and taught this technique to virtually every equine surgeon who has taken an equine fracture fixation course in the us over the past 25 years in addition ive taught the technique at courses in europe as well and given webinars on it which have been viewed by veterinary surgeons worldwide
even today watkins work continues in educating veterinarians who may not be aware of advancements in the treatment of these types of injuries
one of our greatest challenges even today is that there are still veterinarians even some who are trained surgeons who have the opinion that these fractures are not repairable or are unaware of this technique watkins said
this is a frustrating reality for watkins who says he has seen horses go without treatment simply because their owners were unaware of the available options
we need to continue working to educate both horse owners and veterinarians about the available options to treat these and other fractures in the horse watkins said there continues to be a perception that when a horse breaks his leg nothing can be done but there are many fractures that can be repaired today
just as was the case with choices a simple inquiry revealed an option for treatment that allowed his owner to make the easy decision to pursue therapy tertiary-care hospitals where special expertise equipment and facilities are available can be great sources of information and provide care that otherwise might not be available
at texas a&m we are extremely fortunate to have the expertise equipment and facilities to manage these most difficult cases watkins said
eriksson who says he would do anything for his animals is still satisfied with his decision to take choices to watkins all the way back in the summer of 1998
i swear by texas a&m but my whole experience is with dr watkins and choices eriksson said i would trust him on anything after what he had accomplished with my horse that was the reason why dr nightingale in bandera contacted him he must have known that dr watkins knew what he was doing
eriksson has since moved choices and his bald eagle ranch operation to south carolina boasting that since his ranchs incorporation in 1994 he has never sold a horse his animals truly are family a family he trusts watkins to treat
if i had a horse with a broken leg here in camden i would still take that horse to texas a&m to dr jeff watkins eriksson said i have absolutely totally 100% confidence in dr watkins
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
beaumont texas aug 27 2020after assessing jefferson county for their veterinary medical needs following hurricane lauras landfall the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) is returning to college station
according to vet director dr wesley bissett jefferson county could not have handled their disaster preparedness any better
the vet deployed to jefferson county based on their request and it was the perfect thing for them to do to anticipate damage and to be prepared we were very fortunate and really all of texas was very fortunate that the impact here was not as bad as anticipated our services arent needed and were able to return home bissett said
the big thing isnt that we were lucky or that we were fortunateits that we were prepared he said jefferson county was prepared and the state of texas was prepared; thats what preparation doesit gets you through these times
bissett said that even though texas was fortunate the thoughts of the team are with those who werent as lucky
were thinking about our friends in louisiana bissett said weve been in touch with the veterinary community in that state and will continue to monitor the situation there
the vet departed college station before sunrise and arrived in jefferson county on thursday morning
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
fifteen members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) and six texas a&m agrilife agents will be serving jefferson county residents affected by hurricane laura which is projected to make landfall along the texas coast
team members will leave bryan-college station on the morning of thursday aug 27 to jefferson county texas where they have been asked to provide veterinary medical support to animals injured by the storm
the support request was made by jefferson county and was approved by the texas division of emergency management
hurricanes are among the threats that the vet plans for frequently and while each hurricane presents unique challenges vet director dr wesley bissett said there are some commonalities to how animals react in these situations
the reality is that virtually all disasters impact animals bissett said traumatic injuries and other medical issues resulting flood waters or storm surges are what we expect to see most with hurricanes there also are always issues associated with the stress of what the animals will go through
the state of texas under the guidance of the texas division of emergency management and texas animal health commission has developed a robust emergency support system as we all recognize that we must provide for the entire family including pets while also protecting the health and well-being of agricultural animals he said
the covid-19 pandemic creates some added challenges for the team but after deploying to polk county earlier this year the vet has experience in overcoming those challenges as well
covid-19 certainly makes deployment more difficult; however we just build on the protocols that our leadership have used to keep our veterinary medical teaching hospital and college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences operating throughout this pandemic bissett said we are fortunate that our entire university system is as committed to our health and well-being as it is to serving the state of texas during difficult times
the vet previously deployed to jefferson county following tropical storm imelda in 2019 and hurricane harvey in 2017
those interested in the vets actions on deployment can follow the team on facebook and those interested in supporting the vet through donations can do so here
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr bonnie beaver a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) has been honored with the 2020 avma award for her contributions to veterinary medicine and her outstanding leadership in professional veterinary organizations
avma awards are presented annually by the american veterinary medical association (avma) in recognition of one member who has contributed to the organizational aspects of veterinary medicine at the local state or national level
the avma award is the highest award given by the organization beaver said as such it means the world to me to be recognized and honored in such a way by my colleagues what else can one say but ‘wow!
beaver who joined the cvmbs as its first female faculty member has played an active role in 30 veterinary organizations during her career including serving as president of the avma from 2004-2005 and founding the american college of veterinary behaviorists and the american college of animal welfare
her contributions to veterinary medicine in general; to behavioral science; to animal welfare in particular; and most specifically to organized veterinary medicine have been exceptional and have changed our profession for the better said cvmbs professor dr deb zoran who nominated beaver for the award
beaver earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from the university of minnesota college of veterinary medicine and worked in private practice for a short time before returning to her alma mater to begin a career in academia a year later she moved south to join the texas a&m faculty where she has been ever since
early in her teaching career beaver developed a special interest in animal behavior and began placing an emphasis on the human-animal bond in her classes
all people who like animals have an interest in animal behavior but they dont understand how to put what an animal does into context beaver said this has become particularly so as the population has moved from the farm to the city where we spend our lives with one or two animals at a time instead of with lots of them
as veterinarians it is important to be able to put context with behavior so that we can help patients grow into mentally and physically healthy animals and stop behavior problems as they develop she said this keeps an animal in the home and promotes a healthy human-animal bond
she used her expertise on animal behavior to create and chair the american college of veterinary behaviorists which received full recognition from the avma american board of veterinary specialties (abvs) in 2001
during her tenure as president of the avma beaver also developed a passion for animal welfare especially in the areas of horse slaughter and farm animal housing she went on to create the american college of animal welfare (acaw) which received provisional recognition from the abvs in 2012
normal behavior and welfare go hand in hand as we understand more about sentience and pain in animals we must concern ourselves with promoting positive welfare for animals beaver said since veterinarians are looked to as animal experts it is critical for our profession to step to the forefront at promoting animal care working with owners and researchers and advocating for what is best for the animal as with other specialty organizations acaw was formed to ensure that the highest level of expertise in welfare was available in the profession
beaver continues to teach classes on animal behavior animal welfare and other veterinary skills at the cvmbs ensuring that todays veterinary students will go on to become caring empathetic leaders in veterinary medicine
professionally i have two great passionsveterinary students and making the profession the best that it can be beaver said these two things converge in teaching with an emphasis on emerging issues within the profession that specifically relates to animal behavior and animal welfare
beaver was announced as the recipient of the 2020 avma award during the avma virtual convention in july
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as a pioneer of domestic animal genetics dr leif andersson is driven by a fascination in the things he cant explain
the world of genetics might at first seem to be far removed from our daily lives conjuring images of glass test tubes and sterile gloves contained within a laboratory however dr leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) brings this world to a more domestic sphere
andersson is among the first to have applied molecular genetic techniques to domestic animals he has worked with pigs chickens horses finches dogs herring cattle and more though anderssons scope of research may seem wide he remains fascinated with the same question throughout multiple model organisms
my general passion in science is to understand the relationship between genetic variation and the phenotypic variation that we can observe andersson said referring to the relationship between what the genes of an organism encode vs that individuals physical appearance
the human horse chicken and fish genomes have on the order of 20 000 genes andersson said we know quite well what some of these genes do but a lot of them we have a very limited understanding of
indeed just because we have great familiarity with an animal doesnt mean that we entirely understand what is going on at a molecular level great mysteries remain in the genetic networks that sculpt everything from grasses to humans even though scientists have successfully sequenced the human genome we still dont know the functions of many of those 20 000 genes andersson hopes his research is a step toward unraveling the mysteries of our dna
anderssons career began in his home country of sweden where he holds a dual professorship at uppsala university he earned his undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biology at the university of stockholm before pursuing a phd in animal breeding and genetics at uppsala university
i took biology as my undergraduate but then almost by accident i ended up in the agricultural university and i started work with domestic animals andersson said after graduating from his undergraduate institution andersson sought out work as a biologist hoping to become involved with ecological protection
andersson instead found a position at the swedish university of agricultural sciences working on a project that analyzed genetic data from horses to establish pedigrees for breeding purposes using this data set andersson was able to map two genes that determined a horses coat color
this research culminated in anderssons phd and kick-started his career as a pioneer of domestic animal genetics he said that human meddling with the breeding of domestic animals makes them fascinating subjects in comparison to more traditional model organisms
the strength for these domestic animals is that they have gone through such a rapid evolution their domestication started 10 000 years ago he said since then we have transformed horses cattle pigs and chicken into the variety of forms that suit human needs
andersson said his research is fueled primarily by curiosity often finding the next trait he will study is as simple as noticing some trait in the wild then searching for the mechanism behind that trait anderson said everything i cant explain is of interest
genetic research often functions at the level of gaining basic knowledge about a specific pathway which may seem divorced from reality to the untrained observer however anderssons research has demonstrated how insights into gene function can lead to sizable cultural and economic payoffs
one example of this is anderssons research into an igf2 mutation in pigs when observing muscle mass fat deposition and heart size in different types of wild and domestic pigs andersson noted that alleles from domestic breeds increased muscle mass and decreased back-fat thickness in genetics an allele is a version of a gene like different flavors of the same food
using genetic analysis anderssons team determined a selection of genes that were likely to contribute to this physiological change from their pool of candidate genes andersson and his team used selective breeding genetic sequencing and other genetic tests to determine that a mutation in the gene igf2 created an allele that was likely responsible for the observed trait
igf2 also known as insulin growth factor 2 can be mutated in a certain place where protein interactions will encourage expression of this gene at three times its normal level this translates to a 10-20 percent variation in back-fat thickness and 15-30 percent variation in muscle mass this change can provide a boost in food production efficiency
this mutation means that for each pig food producers get about 4 kg more meat it shunts the pigs energy towards meat muscle production rather than fat andersson said you get a leaner pig that produces protein basically and that is exactly what the consumer pays for
from this same igf2 research andersson also identified a factor called zbed6 when igf2 is mutated to the form that increases muscle production zbed6 is no longer able to interact with igf2 this disruption accounts for increased production of the mutated igf2 gene and a corresponding increase in muscle mass as zbed6 discourages igf2 expression in the unmutated form
as andersson investigated the function of zbed6 he identified it as a transposon or a jumping gene these genes encode an enzyme that allows them to cut themselves out of a certain spot and jump into the organisms dna at another location as expected these sequences can be highly mobile though most of them stopped their jumping a long time ago in the mammalian genome these jumping genes usually settle down inside of another gene so they can freeload off of the permanent genes on/off switch and other regulatory hardware required for expression
when zbed6 decided to settle down in its current location it teamed up with another gene that is very important in helping the cell transport genetic material in and out of its control center or nucleus unfortunately some harmful viruses like hiv and influenza have caught onto this role and hitchhike on this transport protein to the cytoplasm where virus proteins are made
andersson hopes that he and his team can use the knowledge they gained from understanding this pathway to develop a medicine that blocks protein interactions with viruses and as such hinders the viruss ability to spread within the body
with influenza we have the flu shot but the fear is that a new version of influenza that we dont have a vaccine for will come up and then you need something else that could block this virus andersson said blocking the zbed6 pathway would allow the same drug to block many different strains of the flu a drug like the one he is working to develop would also be able to fight the active infection unlike a vaccine which must be given to an uninfected individual
anderssons path from discovering how to increase meat production to how to fight viral infections demonstrates the unexpected discoveries one can find from studying how genes work and just how useful these discoveries can prove to be
at the cvmbs andersson is currently working on research concerned with explaining the variation of feather color in chickens by breeding chickens with different traits together and observing the traits of their offspring andersson hopes to gain insight into how different patterns are created
who we are is largely determined by our genes and our environment which means that a large portion of what we will look like is predetermined at a very early stage of development for example some cells are destined to become heart tissue while others are instructed to become feathers breaking cell fate down further some feathers might become short and white while others will be directed to be long and spotted
anderssons research works to decipher the genes behind variations in feather color within a single chicken though understanding why different sets of feathers in the same chickens look the way they do might at first seem to be a frivolous endeavor andersson asserts that understanding the genetic basis of a trait might lead to future discoveries as has occurred in his previous research
i think today theres a tendency to go towards applied research that it should have an immediate impact he said i think its also really important to maintain these supportive fields of basic knowledge because its always difficult to know where solutions to important problems are coming from
the broad scope and open mind andersson maintains in his research efforts have paid off resulting in a diverse array of findings and prestigious recognitions such as membership in the us national academy of sciences and the 2014 wolf prize in agriculture among others in total andersson has authored more than 400 scientific papers and is widely considered a pioneer in the field of functional genomics for his work with domestic animals
at the root of anderssons success is not only a brilliant mind but also curiosity and the trust that his research no matter how abstracted it may seem at times brings important contributions and applications to the real world
i have this keen interest to understand how things function andersson said research is trying to understand the world i would say when you get insight new knowledge that no one has had before that is really rewarding
anderssons efforts operate at a global level: he holds dual professorships at the cvmbs and uppsala university in sweden and splits his time between the two countries andersson emphasizes the importance of exchanging ideas between scientific communities he asserts that science is an international endeavor used to solve international problems the issues he works to tackle including disease and food insecurity are of universal concern
these new genomic tools that we have give us basic new knowledge about biology he said that improved basic knowledge can open up the possibilities for practical applications so you can breed healthier animals you can also maintain biodiversity in natural populations
andersson advises that we must be mindful of how we apply genetic modification in our future but that if done correctly it can be a tool in making our future a bright one
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
there may soon be a new weapon in the centuries-old battle against anthrax thanks to groundbreaking work at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs)
anthrax a disease caused by a bacterium called bacillus anthracis contaminates surface soil and grasses where it may be ingested or inhaled by livestock or grazing wildlife this is especially common in the western texas hill country where each year the disease kills livestock and wildlife
while normally not an attention-grabbing problem a spike of cases in 2019 made headlines around the state
according to dr jamie benn felix a postdoctoral research associate in the cook wildlife lab led by cvmbs department of veterinary pathobiologys (vtpb) dr walt cook that spike may have been responsible for the deaths of more than 10 000 animals
if you assume the economic value for each animal was $1 000 which is probably extremely low given the number of exotic species on some of the ranches youre looking at an economic loss of $10 million in just a few months she said and given the problems with reporting cases it could be significantly higher than that
the good news is that there is already a vaccine for anthrax which many livestock owners administer annually unfortunately it can only be administered with an injection that is time consuming for livestock and not feasible for wildlife
with that in mind benn felix and the cook wildlife lab team in collaboration with vtpb researchers dr allison rice-ficht and dr thomas ficht went to work to attempt to create a formulation to deliver the vaccine orally which would allow for potential distribution to wildlife she recently published the results of a pilot study in npj vaccines and is now moving on to the next round of tests
if successful they will have developed the first effective oral vaccine against anthrax for wildlife
the preliminary results showed that this concept has potential so now we are starting up a deer study and well see where it goes from there benn felix said
anthrax is among the oldest enemies of microbiologists and the current vaccination methodusing whats known as the sterne strainis basically the same as it was 85 years ago when max sterne developed it so an oral vaccine has been a goal for some time
in fact in the past many livestock owners trying to save time and effort would pour the vaccine over food but previous testing by benn felix proved the ineffectiveness of this method
the main issue with an oral vaccine is the ability to keep the bacteria alive in the gastrointestinal tract long enough and in the right amount to produce the desired immune activity in the animal to that end other efforts have been made with different strains of the bacteria and other mediums but have thus far not proven effective
benn felixs approach is both simpler and more complexsimpler because their approach uses the same strain that has been proven effective for decades but more complex because of the utilization of a gel-like suspension
our idea is that with this oral anthrax vaccine we can get it into a bait of some sort and then easily vaccinate these animals said benn felix the formulation that were using is the same live strain of bacteria from the current commercial vaccine put into a gel-like substance
benn felix compared the release of the vaccine in the gel-like substance technically known as alginate encapsulation to a common gumball machine
its the same general idea as those big glass gumball machines you would see in the mall or a store in which you put a quarter and get a single gumball out she said the gel holds a bunch of the live attenuated bacteria and it gradually releases some of that bacteria over time
though theyre currently still working at a small scale benn felix and her team are keeping an eye to the distant future and considering how this vaccine might be implemented at a larger scale
one example theyre looking at is what dr tonie rocke did at the national wildlife health center in madison wisconsin with a plague vaccine for prairie dogs
they put their vaccine into a bait that was flavored with peanut butter flavoring benn felix said that is the same general idea that were going for with this; we would just distribute the baits and then see how many were consumed or we would have trail cameras that would see if there was any non-target species that ate any of it
there are a lot of things that would go into formulating the baitmaking sure the vaccine is still stable and viable when its in the bait and then seeing how it would affect or be consumed by wildlife or any other wildlife we dont want to have it she said
currently one of benn felixs biggest obstacles is a lack of data on exactly how much damage is caused by anthrax in wildlife in texas her team is actively reaching out to ranchers hunters and other groups across the state in an effort to increase the reporting on anthrax cases
if anthrax outbreaks arent reported it appears as if its not an issue and the federal government and other organizations dont prioritize funding benn felix said i didnt realize this was even an issue until i moved to texas reporting outbreaks will help generate critical data about this issue and demonstrate as a fact what we down here already know which is that its a huge issue
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
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by sampling dogs and cats whose owners have tested positive in brazos county the team is working to understand how pets living in ‘high-risk households may be impacted by sars-cov-2
the transmission of covid-19 to pets has been the source of much discussion within the scientific community
while reports have confirmed a small but growing list of positive cases among companion animals and exotic cats in the united states new texas a&m university research efforts are beginning to shed additional light on the topic
in further exploring the degree to which pets are infected with sars-cov-2 the virus that causes covid-19 a team led by texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) associate professor of epidemiology dr sarah hamer is seeing evidence that pets living in high-risk households with people who have covid-19 in brazos county and the surrounding areas may also become infected with this virus brazos county includes bryan-college station and is the home to texas a&m university
were one of a few veterinary research groups across the country that are conducting similar investigations to provide an enhanced understanding about sars-cov-2 infections in petsasking questions such as are pets being exposed becoming infected can they spread the virus to humans or other animals do they get sick hamer said its really exciting that research teams are beginning to respond to the crisis in this way
in their ongoing project hamer has partnered with dr gabriel hamer in the texas a&m college of agriculture and life sciences (coals) and dr rebecca fischer in the texas a&m school of public health to recruit participants for the study sample pets at each household and test the samples in their laboratory facilities
by actively screening pets who may not be symptomatic and who are living with people who have tested positive for covid-19 dr hamers project provides important new information about the transmission pathways of the virus said dr john august interim dean of the cvmbs this project reflects the dedication and leadership of scientists from three of our colleges at texas a&m university working together with a one health approach to improve animal and human health and to address this serious pandemic
since beginning their sampling of cats and dogs whose owners consented to their participation the team has identified two asymptomatic cats from different houses in brazos county that have tested positive for sars-cov-2 while living in a household with a person who was diagnosed with covid-19 additional pets have confirmatory testing underway
at the time we collected samples from these cats at their houses the owners did not report any signs of disease in their pets during the course of their own illnesses but one of the cats later developed several days of sneezing after we tested it hamer said
our study was not designed to test the directionality of transmission of the virus (whether pets become infected from owners or vice versa) but what this does tell us is that pets can become infected in high-risk households and pets should therefore be considered in the way we manage these households as part of the public health response hamer said
the american veterinary medical association and centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) covid-19 one health working group emphasize that people who test positive should isolate from their pets or wear a face mask around their pets just as they should do with other people she said we know that is probably really hard if you are quarantined at home and just want to snuggle with your pet but it is important to do during a persons illness to protect both human and animal health
the team plans to repeat the sampling of any pet with positive test results and to continue to communicate with pet owners in addition the team will attempt to isolate infectious virus from the swab samples and conduct antibody testing from serum (blood) samples for all pets in the study to learn about animal infection and exposure
the team has been sampling pets living in households with a family member who has been diagnosed with covid-19 since mid-june with owners opting their pets into the study after being diagnosed with the disease
our goal is to learn more about the different roles that pets may play in the transmission cycle of sars-cov-2 and to understand the timing of animal infections in relation to human infections hamer said we hope that the information will be used to enhance surveillance programs and ultimately help protect both human and animal health
hamer is working closely with the brazos county health department which is assisting with sharing information about the project to those who test positive for pet-enrollment purposes so far the team has sampled several dozen households across the county
samples are tested through the teams own biosafety level 2 and 3 research labs on campus samples that are initially positive on the two tests performed at the texas a&m labs are considered presumptive positive and are then sent to usdas national veterinary services laboratories (nvsl) for confirmation the team is also working with the texas department of state health services (tdshs) and the texas animal health commission (tahc) in data reporting
we have a pretty rigorous testing approach here at a&m after rna extraction the samples have to test positive in two different assays with our lab team before being sent to nvsl hamer said all of our field and lab work has been through multiple approval processes with appropriate organizations in looking out for the animals and also humans best interest
the collected data are contributing to a national database and will contribute to a scientific paper on this work the team will also be seeking funding to continue the work and also to expand the geographic region of their sampling
we hope to continue to be right there to sample pets in these settings so we can contribute more to the emerging science on this topic hamer said
our field and lab teamswhich include doctoral and postdoctoral researchers research associates and scientists and professors from the cvmbs and coalshave been working really hard and i appreciate that theyre willing to work long days especially braving the heat with many layers of personal protective equipment because its one small way we can learn more to help combat the pandemic
to learn more about the project visit txag/bcscovidresearch
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
in her seven years of serving as a medical foster denise camp has helped more than 250 huskies return to full health and find their forever homes
as a medical foster camp makes medical decisions for the dogs that come into her care and pays for any treatments or procedures they may need usually out of her own pocket
so when rescues and shelters in the bryan/college station area accept a husky with injuries mange or other health concerns they know that camp is the person to call
and when camp comes across a dog with problems that are too severe for local practices she turns to the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) for help
in one case camp brought a light red husky named nilla who had broken both back legs to the sah where dr katherine barnes a clinical assistant professor in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) repaired the breaks nilla then began a long-term physical therapy plan
shes still got a lot of muscle to rebuild but her healing appears to be going fine camp said shes got some way to go but not if you ask her she will pull on the leash as hard as her little puppy body can pull and she just wants to play
nilla renamed vanilla bean has been adopted by her new family with whom she will continue her physical therapy
but even nillas case paled in comparison to that of a black and white husky named divinity about whom camp wasnt even sure if recovery would be possible
after escaping from her first owners home and harassing a neighbors livestock divinity was shot in the face at close range and was subsequently surrendered to a rescue which contacted camp despite being unsure that divinity could survive surgery camp and the sah veterinarians decided to do everything they could to help her
shes probably the only dog i have had that i questioned if i was making the right decisions because there was a possibility that she would never even be able to eat on her own camp said i finally just said ‘you know what well just cross that bridge when we come to it if shes meant to live then shes going to live
thanks to her talented team of surgeons led by cvmbs assistant professor dr vanna dickerson divinity survived despite losing half of her tongue and the top part of her snout including her nose
she has a very unique look now but it took no time for her to get adopted camp said she bounced back so quickly and she has the best personality; she did not let anything get her down it turned out that saving her was the right decision
today divinity renamed skyla by her adopters lives a normal life like any other dog besides making a bigger mess while eating
camp found her calling as a husky lover 15 years ago when an extensive search of the houston area led her to kya at that moment she said huskies became her breed
soon after she started volunteering with animal shelters and gradually began fostering the huskies that came her way
im not a traditional foster because the dogs are in boarding at my vets office camp said theres a lot of reasons for that mostly because a lot of them need some level of veterinary care but also because i know if i brought these dogs home they wouldnt leave
as a medical foster camp not only helps huskies find their forever homes but she also saves the lives of those that others might not be willing or able to help
because animal shelters typically have to choose to care for healthier dogs over sicker ones camp can save many dogs that otherwise would not get the opportunity
im a sucker for the underdogthe literal underdog camp said the benefit is seeing these dogs that were considered ‘unadoptable end up being adopted and having a perfectly normal happy healthy life
camp also loves educating potential adopters about the breeds unique personality traits
when huskies were used for sledding the best dogs were the ones that were willing to disobey the sled driver she said if the driver told the dog team to go straight over a frozen lake that the dogs knew was not safe they had to make their own decisions to keep everybody safe that stubbornness and decisiveness was bred into them and are still part of their personality
so potential owners have to have a good sense of humor to have a husky she said you have to be able to laugh at their stubbornness and their innate desire to escape from your house even though youre the one feeding them and giving them a cushy life
camp encourages anyone interested in fostering to give it a try as every additional foster means more dogs being saved
i know people think theyd never be able to give them up and sometimes you cant and you end up keeping them but the truth is most people love to see the dogs go off and be adopted she said they know that opens up a spot for them to foster another dog if you look at it that way all youre doing is just freeing up space for you to save another one
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
fisher the north american river otter made quite a splash when he recently came to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvmbs) small animal hospital (sah) for a dental procedure
though fisher came in for a simple tooth extraction his veterinary team discovered a much more serious problem under the surface luckily the experts on his team were more than prepared to face any challenges in their way including those unique to his species
while north american river otters are native to texas they arent frequently seen by texas a&m veterinarians; fisher was only the seventh otter to visit the sah in the past 22 years so he provided a great opportunity for clinicians staff members and veterinary students to gain experience with a new species
fishers story began in north texas where he was discovered in the woods by a fishermans dog
the fisherman took the pup to a local wildlife rehabilitator who cared for him until he was a few months old and then the texas state aquarium in corpus christi decided to adopt fisher as a friend for their recently rescued otter arthur
because both pups were about the same age and had been around people too much to be released into the wild they were a perfect match
once fisher arrived at his new home the texas state aquariums head veterinarian dr taylor yaw a 2014 cvmbs graduate performed a full medical exam and discovered what looked like a fractured tooth which required surgery to fix
knowing the challenges associated with otter surgery yaw decided to bring fisher to his alma mater to seek assistance from the sahs specialists in anesthesiology dentistry and exotic animal medicine
when fisher arrived at the sah he was greeted by dr ashley navarrette ‘17 the cvmbs clinical assistant professor who oversaw his case though she was not experienced with otter medicine she used her knowledge of similar small mammals to approach fishers care
otters fall into the family mustelidae which includes ferrets she said theyre in that realm like ferrets of seeming like a cat/dog hybrid as it pertains to their unique anatomy and physiology but for the most part we dont extrapolate too much medicine from dogs and cats to otters; we use a lot of what we know about ferrets and weasels
navarrette coordinated with anesthesiology specialists drs keila ida a clinical assistant professor and sarah jarosinski a veterinary resident to sedate fisher and prepare him for surgery
once fisher was asleep they faced two challenges unique to otters
the biggest concern with otters is that unlike most dogs and cats they dont like to breathe on their own while under anesthesia navarrette said you have to manually breathe for them either by depressing a reservoir bag or hooking them up to a ventilator the former being what we did
the other major thing we had to watch for is that while dogs and cats often get cold while under anesthesia it tends to be the opposite for otters she said the anesthetics actually push them the opposite direction and they can develop dangerous hyperthermia thankfully fisher didnt have any issues with that
once fisher was stable under anesthesia dr bert dodd a cvmbs clinical professor and dentistry specialist began the procedure
dodd usually spends his days treating dogs and cats and was excited to have the opportunity to work with an otter for the first time
its always fun to treat something a little different but its also fun to see how similar they are to other species dodd said the shape and amount of the teeth are a little bit different but overall it was much like working with a small dog
when dodd began his procedure he was surprised to find that fishers tooth wasnt fracturedit was impacted in the jaw bone as a result fisher was beginning to develop a dentigerous cyst a slow-growing benign cyst surrounding the impacted tooth that can result in a broken jaw if left untreated
i located the tooth in the jaw after removing some bone and then took the tooth out and filled the socket back up with a bone-promoting product dodd said the challenge was getting that tooth out of the bone without breaking the jaw thats always a scary part (of this procedure) and thats one of the reasons most veterinarians dont try to do this surgery
thanks to dodds expertise and years of experience the surgery was successful and fisher began a quick and seamless recovery
now back home at the texas state aquarium fisher spends each day learning and playing in otter creek with his new best friend arthur
he is living the life yaw said he has a group of eight trainers who will be taking care of him for the rest of his life and hes already started his training program hes definitely an eager learner
by training fisher to open his mouth roll over and stay still on command the aquariums trainers can make sure that his regular veterinary checkups are as easy and stress-free as possible
as a permanent resident of the aquarium fisher plays a key role in educating visitors about wildlife conservation
we have north american river otters at the aquarium so people can learn about them yaw said they are also a species that were actively trying to help preserve through our wildlife rescue center
fishers case may have been full of unique challenges and surprises but thanks to yaws foresight and the talented team of sah veterinarians on his case fisher completely recovered and will enjoy his life of fun and games pain-free
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
although she never anticipated a career in the classroom dr sara lawhon has found the best of both worlds by combining her passions for research and education
french microbiologist louis pasteur once said chance favors the prepared mind
few embody this mantra as wholeheartedly as dr sara lawhon an associate professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb)
lawhon began her journey at texas a&m in 1987 with the dream of becoming a small animal veterinarian after completing a bachelors degree in biomedical sciences she returned in 1993 in pursuit of her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree
but four years later as she neared graduation from veterinary school her focus began to shift at the time she was studying under pathologist paul frelier who proposed that she stick around to fill an open postdoctoral position
after graduation she took him up on his offer; however making the decision to go with the flow didnt come easily
i had sworn i wasnt going to do that she recalled in reference to her post-doctoral work but spending time in dr freliers lab inspired me the work we were doing married clinical diagnostics and research in a way that sparked my interest in microbiology
it was exciting lawhon remembers
this marked the start of her transition from one goal to another; as she drifted from the idea of becoming a small animal veterinarian and toward her new passion she began looking for microbiology residencies
as lawhon saw it she had three options worth considering and one of them was at north carolina state once again an opportunity had found her and she went with itand was happy to do so somewhere with a favorable climate
im a texas girl she said adding that the warm weather had a major impact on her ultimate decision and fortunately for me they were willing to take me on
while completing her residency in infectious diseases and her phd at the north carolina state university college of veterinary medicine she discovered her passion for salmonella
i didnt expect to spend my life or career thinking about salmonella and carbon metabolism she recalled the science behind the phd was very basic but we got to do a lot of things that really had application and direct clinical relevance it was really a lot of fun
with the support of clinical microbiologist dr craig altier during her residency and through application and direct clinical relevance basic science came to life
after this lawhon returned to texas a&m as a postdoctoral researcher with dr l garry adams and in 2008 became an assistant professor however once again this was not always part of her plan; she had loved a&m during her time here but never thought it would be her ultimate landing place
i was certainly supportive of (coming back) as an option she recalled (but) you just never know whats going to happen and what jobs are going to be available i was open to being other places as long as there was good science good people and interesting diseases
so with the support of her family and husband ian as well as her love for college station she returned to a&m where she has been ever since
she joined the cvm as associate director for the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) where on day two her interest in salmonella expanded to include the genome sequencing of staphylococcus looking for virulence factors (molecules produced by bacteria that help the bacteria cause disease in a host) antibiotic resistance genes and investigating case studies of natural infections all became part of her growing list of responsibilities
these are still her primary interests but now lawhon does three main things; in addition to teaching she is a clinical microbiologist for the vmth and the director of the clinical microbiology and clinical immunology laboratory
likening herself to happy gilmore who thought of himself as more of a hockey player than a golfer lawhon sees herself as a researcher who gets to teach
but its a role in which she excels so much so that in 2018 she was recognized by the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) with the distinguished veterinary teacher award presented by zoetis
important for lawhon is that her teaching and research are often combined
she emphasized the value of protecting antibiotic resources adding that part of her goal is to ensure that her students still have many antibiotics to use when they are in their 20th or 30th year of practice
we all want for the next generation to still have the tools and resources that antibiotics provide she said we translate whatever struggles we have in finding information for a patient into an easier way for somebody in the future to find a diagnosis and a good therapeutic agent faster
in addition to the distinguished veterinary teacher award this spring lawhon also received the students of the american veterinary medical associations (savma) 2019-2020 teaching excellence award an international honor that recognizes outstanding teachers in the profession
fourth-year veterinary student rachel ellerd who nominated lawhon for the award says she is both an excellent teacher and mentor who encourages students to follow their passions
during a class activity on fecal floats ellerd discovered that very little peer-reviewed research existed on crested geckos under lawhons guidance ellerd began a project on a variety of lizards that is set to become a published paper
dr lawhon is undoubtedly very busy during the semester; however there was no hesitation when she agreed to take time out of her weekend to help me analyze gecko fecal samples ellerd said although she specializes in salmonella and had nothing to gain by helping with my project she spent hours assisting with data collection research and development just to foster a love of research in one of her students
this type of forward-thinking teaching has inspired countless students who said while lawhon expressed surprise in winning the teaching awards they would have been surprised if she hadnt been awarded it
one of her two current phd students sara little said lawhon has been a huge source of support
i feel like with her guidance and her advice and her support its been more of an all-around growth instead of just your phd in science little said with those milling around the room nodding in agreement shes been an example of how to live my life how to ‘adult and how to be a caring person
in addition lawhons care for her students extends beyond the classroom and lab; little says lawhon even invites students to her home for holidays
we dont necessarily get the chance to go back to our families little smiled so every year she always hosts a thanksgiving dinner and a christmas party giving all of us little grad student orphans somewhere to go
i have great students lawhon said you dont just wake up one morning and say ‘i want to be a veterinarian you might initially have done that but then youre going to put in another dozen years of hard work to get to that point and then when you get to that point youre going to work even harder so they work really hard to be the best possible veterinarians that they can be
when discussing her reception of the awards lawhon emphasized how humbling it is to know that her students elected her for the awards
thats incredibly personally satisfying to get to be a little piece in their story in their timeline she said it is really positive and rewarding to share what i get to see at the bench with people that i hope that will find it useful
ultimately lawhon never guessed that she would be where she is today but she is glad that her journey has brought her back to a&m here she has the opportunity to inspire future microbiologists all while making her own positive changes in the world
you do your best with your education and be prepared when opportunities arise she said i try to create those same kinds of opportunities for my students now because you just might find your salmonella somewhere out there so if you have the opportunity to try a bunch of different things it can take you interesting places
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
from the moment flapjack was adopted as a puppy from the houston humane society in 2008 he became an integral part of his new family
he was super smart from the time we got him said flapjacks owner robert schmidt he was very inquisitive and he seemed tuned in with the world not just in a puppy or a dog way but in a sentient way
flapjackss ability to provide empathetic support was critical when schmidts first wife lori developed cancer in 2015
when somebody is dealing with a terminal illness a lot of your friends and family dont know how to react so they stop coming around as much he remembered flapjack and his sister and brother were often the only shoulder to cry on while lori was going through her illness and when she passed away in 2017
soon after flapjack came to need support of his own
in 2018 schmidt took the dog to springtown veterinary in san marcos for a dental cleaning and agreed to have a discounted ultrasound while flapjack was sedated that test identified a tiny possibly cancerous tumor on flapjacks bladder so schmidt asked for a referral to the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
after the tumor was confirmed as bladder cancer his initial conversations with the vmth staff were difficult
when i went there and talked to some of the doctors and the oncology nurses they painted a bleak picture he said and i believed it because i got the same talk in 2015 when my wife was diagnosed with cancer
despite being unsure that surgery could cure the cancer schmidt and the vmth oncology service decided to do everything possible to try to heal flapjack despite the cost
thanks to the talented veterinary surgeons flapjacks operation was successful they removed the entire tumor and in subsequent check-ups found that the cancer has not returned
im a realist and every checkup i expect a recurrence schmidt said they had said that he would probably not be here by now a year-and-a-half later
if we hadnt found the tumor and if it werent for the good people in springtown veterinary suggesting the ultrasound dr dan allen (flapjacks veterinarian) being quick and giving me the referral to a&m and the good work of the vmth staff he wouldnt be with us he said
schmidt was overjoyed to return home with flapjack but he also was concerned about paying off a bill for $12 000 the total cost to treat the bladder cancer
fortunately the vmth and petco foundation were able to help with a pet cancer treatment grant
the petco grant awarded to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) in 2019 stipulated that the grants funds assist pet owners facing extensive costs in treating their animals cancer in the time since several pet owners have tapped into these funds to defray costs
the financial support from petco and other funding sources helped schmidt greatly
you dont realize how generous people are when it comes to your animal family he said it always chokes me up when someone tells me that theyve given a gift for flapjacks treatment because it renews my faith in people i love flapjack like my son and companies like petco recognize that and do things to take some of the pressure off of you so you can worry about making your animal well its a huge blessing
the pet cancer treatment grant program primarily supports cancer treatments at large- and medium-sized oncology departments in colleges of veterinary medicine
this grant helps pet owners with the pretty extensive costs associated with cancer therapy in animals said dr heather wilson-robles cvm associate professor and dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology it is meant to help people pay for those things so that they can actually get their animals treated if they want to
the petco foundation grant is the only industry grant funding that the oncology team which is the second-most used service in the vmth behind the emergency room has received to support patient care
were extremely grateful for all of our donors but the petco foundation funds have allowed us to do a lot more for clients because it is such a large donation wilson-robles said
the grants funds provide an important financial resource for care that can quickly escalate and for innovative therapies that may benefit the pet
since were an integrated service almost all our patients will receive multimodality therapy which is what tends to make it expensive wilson-robles said many of them have preoperative radiation then theyll have surgery then theyll get chemo the cost really does build up
also if there is a fairly novel or new treatment and were thinking outside the box sometimes that costs money she said we can support the owner and not feel like were charging them for something when we dont know what the outcomes going to be
the petco foundation grant has also been a boon for the vmths staff
its been huge for morale especially for some of the house officers (who serve as liaisons between clients and clinicians) theyre on the front lines and they get really attached to these patients and clients over time wilson-robles said for the house officers to be able to say ‘the clients are out of money; is there any way we can help them with these funds and for us be able to say ‘yes really helps them feel good
today at 12 years old flapjack is still healthy active and cancer-free
hes doing well and hopefully hell live a full life and another three four or five years schmidt said when you see him hes really like a puppy he doesnt look like a 12-year-old dog hes just a little happy rambunctious puppy dog
like flapjack many beloved pets will benefit from the petco foundation grant their owners and the vmth oncology staff can focus on doing everything possible to btho cancer knowing the petco foundation is there to support them
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note: a version of this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
since graduating in 2013 dr lauren thielen has found herselfand her work with exotic animalsas the centerpiece of nat geo wilds dr t lone star vet
dr lauren thielen a 2013 graduate of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is no stranger to a camera
after receiving her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree thielen pursued an internship at the broward avian and exotics animal hospital in florida under dr susan kelleher one month after beginning her position thielen learned that national geographic would be producing a television show about the practice
i thought it was cool thielen said im the type who likes these things i thought it would be great to educate through an outlet so lovely as national geographic
dr ks exotic animal er premiered in 2014 and is currently in its eighth season the show follows the happenings of the animal hospital as dr kelleher and her team treat everything from ferrets to foxes thielen appeared on the show from its beginning in 2014 until she left the practice in 2018
her claim to fame didnt end there though; she now headlines her own national geographic program dr t lone star vet which premiered in october
nobody thinks theyre going to be on tv i went to school to be a doctor thielen said i dont think i ever expected something like this to happen but im really glad it did
although appearing on television was an unexpected twist in her career thielen has always held a passion for exotic animals raised in fort worth she recalls sharing a love of animals with her father; she was never far from an animal friend in her home growing up
ive had turtles iguanas parrots different types of lizards hamsters gerbils and rabbits ive always had rabbits she said adding that in veterinary school she had a dutch rabbit named penelope ive had a very big variety of different animals over the years
when she began thinking about working with animals she initially wanted to be an exotic veterinarian at a zoo but at the cvm she was exposed to the option of becoming an exotic animal pet veterinarian she was especially drawn to the hands-on nature of working with pets saying that bunnies were much cuddlier than zoo animals like tigers
ive wanted to be a veterinarian since i knew what a veterinarian was ive really always just loved animals and ive always loved exotic animals she said
thielens early exposure to and interest in a range of animals has benefited her career she has gone on to help a diverse cast of animals working with everything from emus and capybaras to turkeys and lizards
at this point there is little that could shock her
one guy wanted to bring me this red indian flying tree squirrel that was the size of a cat it was awesome she said i see crazy things all the time on tuesday we saw a lynx
among her favorite cases was a pot-bellied pig thielen treated for water intoxication the pig came into the clinic unable to move with its pupils fixed and dilated which means its brain wasnt functioning properly
i contacted like five different veterinarians and everyone told me it was completely hopeless and that the patients never going to be normal again she said
thielen didnt give up describing her approach to that case as meticulous in the end her effort paid off
the pig ended up great and is still doing well to this day she said i was a brand new veterinarian and i still found confidence and was able to gather the right knowledge to be able to save this patient against all odds
in 2018 thielen made the decision to move home to texas and pursue an opportunity with her former mentor dr sharman hoppes a professor emeritus at the cvm
the two had first connected over their mutual love of exotic animals when thielen was a student assigned to the zoological medicine ward thielen eventually joined a group of students led by hoppes that traveled to tambopata peru to work with macaws thielen said this experience is when she became more involved with hoppes and her husband dr bruce nixon dvm 85
the two reconnected by chance when they ended up on the same flight to an exotic animal conference
as hoppes discussed the opening of her and her husbands new practice thielen was particularly intrigued by their concept of providing specialized care to exotic animals within a complex that also offered specialized care in surgery internal medicine cardiology dermatology ophthalmology critical care and dentistry services thielen also noted that the clinic would be located near her childhood home
thielen now is copartner at texas avian & exotic hospital which recently added another aggie dr jordan gentry who completed his residency in zoological medicine at the cvm
thielen says she is proud to be an aggie
i think my favorite part of being an aggie is just the comradery that everyone has and the support of everybody for one another she said
hoppes is glad to work with her former student and mentee as a colleague
lauren is funny smart and passionate she is confident in her knowledge base and her skills hoppes said and she is a really good person she truly loves people and their animals and it shows
thielen also brought with her to texas avian & exotic hospital her tv legacy; dr t lone star vet filmed at this hospital follows thielen as she provides veterinary care to exotic animals
we were nervously excited about this show being filmed at our clinic hoppes said we thought it was a great way to educate people but we were nervous about cameras being there all the time
thielen is glad to get back on camera she said that the decision to resume her television career was easy
my producer and i always had a really good time filming the other show together so we thought ‘why not continue the fun she said ive been on television literally since i graduated veterinary school so to me this is just normal
thielens comfort in front of the camera is clear in the first episode of her show she fearlessly corners a turkey that has been attacking its male owner thielen handles the situation with a mix of humor and educational flair cracking a joke about the turkeys sassy strut before diagnosing the animal with a testosterone imbalance
thielen hopes that this program the first season of which aired for eight weeks on nat geo wild (and is now available on disney+) provides a platform from which she and other veterinarians can educate the public on proper animal and veterinary care
one thing i want to accomplish with this show is to show people how veterinary medicine is supposed to be practiced she said being able to show veterinary collaboration at its finest is important i want to show people that your birds can go to cardiologists too
thielen hopes that by providing exposure to these options owners might seek out more comprehensive care
we can fix a fracture in a parakeets leg we can remove a tumor on a rabbit thielen said by educating pet owners on not only how to take care of an animal but also that there is real medicine for their pets people will understand the possibility in what we do
thielen said another benefit of her program has been the influence she has over inspiring the next generation of exotic animal veterinarians
little girls and even students in veterinary school write me and visit the clinic theyre like ‘i want to be an exotic vet one day she said i didnt even know this job existed until i was already in veterinary school for these people to already know what they want to do for the rest of their lives i just think thats so cool
inspiring more students to pursue exotic veterinary medicine is important thielen notes since not all owners have easy access to veterinarians properly trained to care for their exotic pets
patients do travel to see us there are some veterinarians who see exotics in the area but were the only exotics-exclusive facility in all of dallas-fort worth she said i do think that there are definitely other veterinarians who will see some exotics but were kind of the only practice thats going to see the lynx or the monkey
in general thielen is enthusiastic about most animals that the average person would shy away from she is particularly drawn to birds speaking about the beaked animals as lovingly as most people would talk about puppies
birds are the cuddliest she said theyre expressive when you walk in a room they get excited and they dance and they fly to you
i also get attached to lizards she said i would argue theyre all extremely personable and most of them want to be held and want to be interacted with
this mindset suits thielen well as an exotic animal veterinarian and leaves a lot of doors open for her future work in addition to filming dr t lone star vet and completing her regular clinic duties thielen recently became a board certified avian specialist
when reflecting on the animals she has provided care for thielen does not recall ever feeling fearful of a patient
i have a healthy respect for all animals she said as far as a true phobia i dont have anything like that
indeed thielen is ready for any patient the future brings through her clinics doors she looks forward to continuing to provide comprehensive care to her patients and educating her audience through dr t lone star vet she is optimistic that she can handle whatever is in store
i see pretty much everything now she said theres a lot i havent seen but i think im ready for almost anything
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when tex moncrief welcomed a rescued pug into his home he opened the doors to a friendship with an aggie veterinarian that he would come to cherish as much as his beloved pet
william tex moncrief has owned a lot of dogs in his 100 years but none were as special to him as lucky
lucky came to tex and his wife linda in 2007 when the pug was only around 3 or 4 months old
he was a cute little guy all ruffled up tex said his name was (originally) zamboni like the machine they drive on an ice rink i said im adopting you but your name is not zamboni anymore; from now on youre lucky we loved that dog
and lucky he was
over the years lucky came to mean a lot to the moncriefs and tex especially meant a lot to the pug
if lucky happened to be asleep and i got up and walked away and didnt wake him up it didnt make any difference where i went in this houseand its a pretty large househe would find me tex said it was the darnedest thing id look down and pat him and hed lick my hand and wiggle his tail
ive had several pugs but he was the most lovable fellow i ever had; he just had to be with me he said
lucky even liked to sleep with his head on texs shoe which linda interpreted as making sure he wouldnt get left behind
when at one point tex was briefly hospitalized for a nosebleed lucky did get left behind but the pug still did his best to be with tex
i came back from the hospital and i couldnt find lucky where he normally stays by the kitchen or the main entrance i said ‘what happened to lucky linda recalled it was unusual because when we were away he would make sure he was the first to greet us
so i went downstairs and i found lucky on his (texs) shoes the way he always slept when tex was wearing his shoes she said i brought the shoes upstairs and i left part of his clothes in the chair lucky rested in so that he would feel comforted i thought that was very special
so special in fact that linda ended up bringing lucky to the hospital to see tex
he was so happy tex said he crawled right up on the bed and i just rubbed and patted him
as lucky aged he developed addisons disease and then leukemia which eventually took his life at the age of 11 it was a hard loss for the moncriefs
for weeks there we could hardly stand it missing that dog i dont think ive ever had a dog in all of my life that i missed that much it was awful tex said i didnt think we were going to get over him
when lucky passed the veterinarian who had cared for him throughout it alldr james schroeder 65was there with the dog because of the routine nature of luckys treatment schroeder had become a fixture in the moncriefs lives
i met dr schroeder when i took lucky in for a checkup i was impressed when i first met jim tex said dr schroeder and jill (who worked for dr schroeder) would come to our house to care for lucky like he was a little child of their own almost and they were just gentle it meant a lot to me for them to do that
dr schroeder just made life easier for us knowing we were going lose him he said from jim i understood how you can love a little dog
knowing that luckys passing was particularly hard on the moncriefs schroeder wrote a letter to the couple to express his condolences the framed letter now hangs in their home
‘the past month was difficult to see lucky lose his strength and energy but through all of that time until the end he remained very loyal and faithful to you tex says reading the letter ‘though it is with humility that i understand that i am unable to cure or save all of my patients i have long realized that i am just the hands that the lord uses to assist in the ultimate purpose for these little creatures he gives us for a time to enjoy and care for believing that gives me some comfort as i try to help with the end of their lives
‘i will always remember as luckys life was ending that you said a very… tex pauses as he reads emotions welling up ‘…dear prayer thanking god for giving those years with lucky to enjoy his companionship i have also seen the sweet adoration and love that you and linda have shown for each other that is a reflection of a kind and generous heart that i have seen and i thank you for your trust
in recognition of that mutual love and respect tex and linda decided to give back to schroeders alma mater with a gift honoring their long-time veterinarian the funds will honor schroeder in perpetuity with a room named after schroeder at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital
jim schroeder is just one of the finest men ive ever met hes not only a good veterinarian hes just a fine gentleman tex said
editors note: dr james schroeder passed away feb 13 2020 we send our condolences to the schroeder family
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
an early interest in cancer research set mahsa zarei on a path to investigate treatments for rare and genetically linked conditions
ask most 12-year-old children what they want to be when they grow up and you are likely to get a variety of answers ranging from professional athlete to astronaut
while doctor or scientist might be on that list as well it is doubtful you would hear something as specific as cancer biologist
mahsa zarei phd however was one of those rare children
when zarei was 12 years old she watched two of her close aunts fight cancer one aunt benefited from early diagnosis and treatment; the second passed away
throughout this ordeal zareis mind raced with questions: how could she help her aunts what kind of cancer did they have what were the treatments
as a result she became an avid student of cancer devouring cancer biology books
at 12 i wanted to know what is cancer and whats happening with the cancer zarei recalls i learned most of the treatments for different types of cancer
zareis interest in this career path never wavered
she earned her undergraduate degree in medical bio-technology and her phd in cancer biology before accepting a postdoctoral research scientist position at the sidney kimmel cancer center in philadelphia
in 2016 she was the lead author on a study about pancreatic cancer and its ability to survive in the nutrient-poor conditions of the pancreas the survivability of pancreatic cancer in such poor conditions has also seemed to translate to its resistance of current chemotherapy treatments
its like a cactus in a desert zarei explains without any nutrients but its still growing and aggressive
zarei and her co-researchers found that one of the key proteins hur allowed the cancer to survive in the nutrient-poor microenvironment of the pancreas it also gave the cancer a resistance to chemotherapy drugs
as the well-known sun tzu quote advises know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the result of a hundred battles
zarei has followed this advice in her research by knowing her enemy
cancer in one of the broadest definitions of the term refers to diseases that cause abnormal cells to divide without control and can invade nearby tissues according to the national cancer institute
most know that there are many different types of cancer caused by any number of things or underlying conditions doctors and researchers have spent decades even centuries fighting cancer in all its forms
previous treatments like chemotherapy concentrated on killing the cancerous cells but more recently there has been a push to discover new ways of fighting it
for the better part of her career zarei took the approach of figuring out how different types of cancer worked at a very basic level by understanding the different pathways and processes that allow these cancers to live and grow she can understand how better to fight them at that basic level
after leaving the sidney kimmel cancer center zarei joined harvard medical school as a research scientist fellow there while working at the brigham and womens hospital she learned about a pair of fraternal twins one of whom had tumors in the kidney; no one could determine why these tumors were occurring
thats why i worked so hard to try and understand her disease better and to come up with something she said
after conducting genetic screening zareis lab found that the girl had a rare genetic disease that causes tumors that can affect the brain kidneys lungs and heart a mutation in a protein complex called tuberous sclerosis complex (tsc) is what causes the tumor growth
in normal cells tsc1 and tsc2 help inhibit or stop another protein complex called mtorc1 the girls tumor cells lacked tsc2 so mtorc1 was hyper-activated this caused the out-of-control division of cells and the growth of the tumor
after finding the pathway involved in the rare genetic disease zarei and her co-researchers looked for ways to interrupt that pathway they found a drug called thz1 that was being used for different cancer types including breast and ovarian cancer
when tested on tsc-deficient cells and normal cells thz1 selectively targeted the tsc-deficient cells and caused them to die but left healthy cells alone
the established treatment for this disease is a drug called rapamycin rapamycin and drugs similar to it commonly called rapalogs reduce tumor size while the patient is taking the drug however as soon as the treatment ends the tumors begin to grow again which means that patients would have to remain on the drug indefinitely
zareis research found that thz1 not only reduced tumor size but it prevented re-growth of the tumors after stopping treatment the us department of defense now funds this study and cyrus pharmaceutical company has begun the first clinical trials of a derivative of thz1
we are hoping that in the near future we can use this with a tsc patient zarei said
in 2018 zarei moved to college station with her husband who had accepted a position in the texas a&m university college of engineering
zarei was then recruited by the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp)
the evaluation of her cancer research program by the faculty in our department identified dr zarei as a rising star and drove our intense interest in getting her to texas a&m said vtpp department head dr larry suva she is an asset to our department college and university
suva describes zarei as a role model for the energy and focus needed for faculty to succeed in academia
since arriving at texas a&m zarei has continued her research on tsc in september she published a paper on her research in the journal of experimental medicine
she has also renewed her research in pancreatic cancer with renowned cancer researcher dr stephen safe also in vtpp together they hope to find a new treatment that will reduce pancreatic cancers tolerance of its harsh microenvironment and chemotherapy
zarei is hopeful they will be able to publish their findings soon
dr zarei has been great to work with safe said she will be a prime candidate for a full faculty position
zarei has turned an adolescent passion into a thriving career in the future she wants to continue finding answers in the lab that translate to the patients beds
while she has mentored and taught students in her lab including undergraduate researchers like rachel e yan one of the co-authors on zareis most recent journal publication she also hopes to return to the classroom soon to pass on what she has learned
zarei wants to teach undergraduate and graduate classes and maybe a cancer biology class if thats possible
my future goal is to be a well-known scientist working on rare diseases and pancreatic cancer zarei said im really passionate about having students to work with
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
many veterinarians and staff members at the texas a&m large animal hospital (lah) recognize santana bening the 24-year-old quarter horse has been a patient since 2015 and for several years now has been visiting every five weeks to receive specialty shoes and other treatments for injured tendons in his front feet
some also know santana by his owner chloe bening a second-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
chloe got santana when they were both 11 years old and the two immediately became best friends together they participated in american quarter horse association (aqha) all-around events and dressage competed nationally and took home the aqha year-end high point in youth first-level dressage award in 2013
when santana developed a severe lameness of his front right foot in august 2016 he was subsequently retired from his show career chloe and her parents brought him to the lah where he was seen by dr sarah sampson a clinical assistant professor of equine sports medicine and imaging
santana was so lame when we first saw him that the only way we could get him comfortable was to put his leg in a bandage cast so that he didnt have any significant movement of that limb sampson said
following an ultrasound and mri sampson determined that santana had severe deep flexor tendon injuries in both of his front feet with the right foot being more painful at the time this tendon damage was partially caused by a degenerative process commonly seen in his breed and repetitive strain over his long show career
even though the benings knew they had a long expensive road ahead of them to heal santana they were determined to do whatever was necessary to get him happy and pain-free
after his diagnosis and a short period of rest santana began treatment with a series of stem cell perfusions in his front feet
stem cell perfusions work by injecting stem cells cultured from bone marrow in this case taken from santanas sternum into the affected limb with their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to signal to other cells in the body stem cells improve the horses ability to self-heal
according to sampson stem cells are a relatively common treatment at the lah especially in the sports medicine service
between all of the services at the hospital i think theres usually a horse in one of the services receiving stem cell treatment sampson said because we have a lab of our own at texas a&m its pretty easy for us to get bone marrow and do the culturing
stem cells are most frequently used to treat injured tendons and ligaments in horses but are also becoming a more common option for cartilage tears or fractures in joints equine veterinarians are hopeful that with time even more possibilities will arise
theres a lot of research that still needs to be done sampson said the hope is that we will be able to say ‘this is a lesion that we can definitely help with stem cells and to be able to focus in on where we truly can be the most helpful
while receiving stem cell treatments santana also began visiting jason maki the lahs in-house farrier whom santana has seen every five weeks since for shoe adjustments he was first fitted with thick protective shoes called clogs that kept his heels elevated to reduce the pain in his feet and allow the tendons to heal before gradually transitioning to shoes with a large heel wedge
to protect his tendons the benings no longer ride santana but still keep him busy practicing showmanship which involves leading a horse through a pattern of walking trotting backing up and pivoting
he really loves to stay competition-ready he likes to be all shaved and look like a show horse chloe said besides that he gets hand grazed and turned out in a small turnout so he cant hurt himself but is big enough that he can walk trot lope and mess around hes living the good retired life
in addition to the talented veterinarians and staff members who have contributed to santanas healing journey sampson largely credits the benings for his success
the benings are those clients who do everything we tell them to do better than we could probably do it ourselves sampson said at one point his feet needed to be iced 24 hours a day and they were paying people to go to the barn where he was boarded and ice him through the night thats what helps us treat animals the best when the owners do exactly what you say
luckily santana doesnt mind the drive from katy to college station every five weeks mainly because it gets him an extra visit with chloe
as soon as mom pulls up the trailer at the barn and says ‘you ready to go see chloe he will drag her to the trailer and jump right in chloe said he loves to see all of the veterinary students so he walks in there like he owns the place
being a cvm student chloe has the extra benefit of being able to know the behind-the-scenes of santanas care and studying under the faculty members like sampson who treat him
it feels like a group effort to take care of him at this point because everybodys seen him for so long she said its awesome because i know that theyre taking care of him and i can trust them; i know that theyre always there watching him its just so nice to know that they care so much for him
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the petco foundation pet cancer treatment grant at texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) provides financial assistance to pet owners like cannon lenfield who have modest means or whose pets have provided a service to others
like most college students cannon lenfield ‘20 didnt have a lot of extra funds on hand when his 9-year-old dog liberty was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018 yet the texas a&m university student proved to be very resourceful in finding ways to pay for his dogs treatment
at that point i had just paid tuition and couldnt afford to pay any more at the moment explained lenfield who didnt have canine health insurance there was no way liberty was going to be able to receive treatment any longer without help
a student worker in vmths small animal hospital gastrointestinal laboratory at the time lenfield paid for most of libertys treatment on his own which required him to buckle down financially
i definitely couldnt buy a lot of stupid things anymore; i stopped eating out and stuff like that he said i knew that it was going to take a lot of money to pay for it so i doubled my hours
lenfield was so committed to ensuring libertys care that after being in a motorcycle accident he reallocated an insurance payment to help pay the bill
my bike still worked so i didnt need the money he said i was fine
fortunately texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) was able to step in to offer him support through the petco foundation pet cancer treatment grant which was established in early 2019 this grant provides financial assistance to pet owners who have modest means or whose pets have provided a service to others
the timing of receiving these funds was especially helpful in libertys case
lenfield was a boy when his family adopted the mixed-breed puppy from a kill shelter they decided to name the dog liberty because she was scheduled to be euthanized on sept 11 but was rescued on sept 10
the young boy and pup quickly formed a tight bond and grew even closer in the ensuing years lenfield opted to bring her to college with him so he could spend time with her between his classes and studies
she was definitely my best friend he said
when the dog reached the age of 9 she started displaying signs of ill health
while i was on vacation the dog sitter noticed a lump on both sides of her neck in her lymph nodes the public health graduate said i took her to the veterinarian the day that i got back and they told me that she probably had cancer
lenfield immediately turned to the vmths oncology staffwho confirmed the diagnosisto oversee libertys treatment
obviously they were going to be the best help that i could get he said plus theres no one else in the area that offers treatment for lymphoma
after deciding to pursue treatment at the vmth lenfield found that that care wasnt cheap
we use a lot of the human-level drugs and equipment but we dont have insurance to help support that said dr heather wilson-robles an associate professor and dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology we keep our prices as low as we can but unfortunately its still expensive
liberty initially qualified for a study that helped cover a portion of the initial treatment cost
that helped pay for a portion of the costs and then after that anything additional was on me lenfield said i got the petco funds later but in between there and then it was all me
the vmths staff was excited to be able to offer lenfield the funds because they were so impressed by his commitment to liberty
he was trying so hard to do everything for this dog we had sort of piecemealed treatments for him as much as we couldwe put her on any studies we could and looked for anything we could do to help him pay for things said wilson-robles finally we got to a point where we didnt have any studies she qualified for and he just wasnt sure he could afford treatment so we offered him the petco funds he just started sobbing because he was just so grateful because he didnt have to stop this dog was his family he didnt have any other family in town
i didnt think happy tears were real until i got the financial assistance to care for liberty lenfield said
sadly despite her treatments liberty succumbed to her lymphoma in september 2019 but throughout it all lenfield had no doubt that the vmth veterinary staff was focused on providing liberty the best care possible
i cant say enough how awesome these people are lenfield said they truly are a wonderful group of people and theres no one else in the world i wouldve rather treated my dog they are some of the most caring compassionate and knowledgeable people this world has to offer and will do everything in their power to take care of you and your animal
lenfield said given the chance he would take the same course of action all over again
if you have the money you should definitely spend it she was there for me for eight years and i only had to do it for one year up until then i only fed her he said i would never take any of the money back i spent like $1 500 in the last week she was alive and even that week was worth $1 500
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note: a version of this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr christopher seabury an associate professor of genomics at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has confirmed that certain aspects of the white-tailed deers response to chronic wasting disease (cwd) are moderately to highly heritable or passed from parent to offspring and can be predicted using a custom genomic tool designed by seabury and his team
this custom tool a novel array designed by seabury can be used to predict a white-tailed deers responses to cwd exposure with high accuracy and specificity meaning that the array is likely to become widely deployed for use in a genetic evaluation program aimed at reducing the prevalence of cwd
such a program would allow deer farmers wildlife managers and regulatory agencies to selectively breed the least susceptible deer thereby building healthier more cwd-resistant populations this tool and program could support herd health of both farmed and free-ranging deer populations; although the initial application of this technology is currently focusing on u s farmed white-tailed deer
cwd is a fatal syndrome that causes weight loss ataxia (as part of a degenerative disease of the nervous system) listlessness and other neurologic symptoms in both farmed and free-ranging us mule deer elk moose and white-tailed deer populations
cwd is recognized as a prion disease meaning that an infectious misfolded protein (prpcwd) is instrumental for behavioral changes emaciation and progressive neurological disease leading to death another relevant prion disease known as scrapie (prpsc) affects both sheep and goats and was first recognized in sheep as early as the 18th century
importantly the prevalence of scrapie has been reduced by approximately 85% through a federal eradication program administered by usda aphis
cwd is currently present in at least 26 us states multiple canadian provinces and several areas in eurasia but its geographic distribution is expanding despite the implementation of surveillance programs that aim to contain and depopulate cwd-positive herds
some naturally occurring genetic variation within the prnp genewhich encodes the normal cellular prion proteinhas previously been associated with enhanced risk for cwd however this study clearly demonstrates that while some genetic variation within the prnp gene has large effects on risk for cwd selective breeding based upon prnp information alone is insufficient to facilitate a rapid reduction in the overall prevalence of cwd in farmed us white-tailed deer
seaburys researchpublished in g3: genes genomes geneticsused molecular genetic techniques and machine learning to analyze dna samples from deer with and without cwd
he and his team confirmed the g96s genetic variant of the prnp gene as having large effects on risk while also demonstrating for the first time that genetic variation in other genes collectively explains more differential susceptibility and variation in disease progression than prnp alone; thereby necessitating a whole-genome approach to selective breeding
the novel test designed and validated by seabury in this study involves a custom affymetrix axiom single nucleotide polymorphism (snp) array which is used to collect genome-wide dna profiles from white-tailed deer; for both association mapping and machine learning
one of the most important things from this initial study is the mean genomic prediction accuracy which hovers around 81 percent seabury said this means that we can predict with about 81 percent accuracy the phenotype of a tested animal and that we can accurately estimate the genetic merit of each animal as it relates to cwd by producing something called genomically-estimated breeding values
this novel strategy for producing genomic predictions for risk of cwd in white-tailed deer could be used to mitigate cwd risk in both farmed and free-ranging deer populations
white-tailed deer are very adaptable and prolific; often reappearing in free-ranging areas where depopulation or herd reduction was attempted to control cwd additionally in regions where indigenous anthrax occurs and has caused wide-spread dead-loss among white-tailed deer managers have often reintroduced white-tailed deer by translocation wouldnt you like to be able to select deer for replacement that you felt would reduce the populations overall risk for cwd seabury said
seaburys next goal includes making the test an affordable and reliable tool that deer farmers and wildlife agencies can use to ensure healthier populations of white-tailed deer
i want to achieve a final array designed to be so cheap that it can be widely used and implemented seabury said im going to strive to redesign the array to maximize the prediction accuracy but also minimize the costs
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dr christopher seaburys research is supported by the chronic wasting disease research fund to contribute click here
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
august previously served as professor dean of faculties associate provost and interim dean of the school of public health
texas a&m university provost and executive vice president carol a fierke has announced the appointment of dr john august as interim dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
august will serve as special assistant to the provost through june then will assume the interim dean position july 1 until the university finalizes the search for a permanent dean
august joined texas a&m as professor and head of the department of small animal medicine and surgery in 1986 he recently served as interim dean of the school of public health and has served as dean of faculties and associate provost
as dean of faculties and associate provost august led faculty affairs and processes including faculty onboarding tenure and promotion processes and programming of the center for teaching excellence and instructional technology services in addition he oversaw services that assist career development and advance the teaching endeavors of texas a&m faculty
august earned a bachelors degree in veterinary medicine from the royal veterinary college at the university of london in england (equivalent to a dvm) he completed his internship and residency in small animal surgery and medicine at auburn university where he also earned his master of science degree from the college of veterinary medicine he is a diplomate of the american college of veterinary internal medicine
prior to his appointment as dean of faculties and associate provost august served texas a&m as interim associate dean for clinical and outreach programs interim head of the department of veterinary pathobiology and deputy dean of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences an internationally noted scholar he was selected as the evelyn williams endowed visiting professor at the university of sydney in 2014
as interim dean augusts administrative experience will assist the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences in supporting faculty staff and student success as well as furthering the development of operational procedures degree programs research initiatives and service efforts
an ongoing search is underway to fill the deans position permanently the search advisory committee is chaired by valen johnson professor and dean college of science
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
this story originally appeared on texas a&m today on may 26 2020 media contact: kelli reynolds kreynolds@tamuedu
i am cvm you are cvm we are cvm
a new campaign by the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is celebrating diversity with short video testimonials by faculty staff and students that highlight the uniqueness of each person and their connecting factorthat they are all cvm
but what does it mean to be cvm
according to dr kenita rogers executive associate dean and director of the cvms office for diversity & inclusion every cvm employee and student is cvm because they contribute to the overall identity of the college the cvm would not be the internationally recognized college it is without its people including the factors that make each and every one of them unique
by broadly representing the colleges staff faculty and students at all levels ‘i am cvm aims to highlight and celebrate the unique narratives of our diverse identities and how these identities come together to form the human tapestry that defines the cvm rogers said
recent events have only further highlighted the importance of celebrating diversity
because the covid-19 pandemic has created change and uncertainty throughout the world cvm leaders believe that its now more important than ever for members of the college to support one another
in addition many americans especially members of the african american community are experiencing fear anxiety and grief over the recent murder of george floyd the resulting worldwide protests have brought racial equality to the forefront of current societal concerns
hate and racism are not aggie values nor are they tolerated at the cvm the i am cvm video series seeks to demonstrate the cvms commitment to creating and maintaining a climate of inclusion according to rogers
for these reasons the cvm office for diversity & inclusion has partnered with cvm communications to launch the series on multiple platforms this summer
the videos put together by the colleges center for educational technologies (cet) each include a two- to three-sentence personal narrative with topics ranging from birthplace religion family hobbies and career
the colleges facebook and twitter accounts will be featuring one student faculty or staff member every monday wednesday and friday throughout the summer
the video playlist is featured on the office for diversity & inclusions website and will also be used in additional ways in the future
the i am cvm series is not only a story of who the cvm is now but is a promise of the colleges goal to remain inclusive to all even after the nation has healed from current events rogers said
for all the unique individuals who call the cvm home rememberyou are cvm

enjoy this youtube playlist celebrating the diversity that makes up the cvm
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story by megan myers
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as dean eleanor m green prepares for her next big move she reflects on what brought her to texas a&m bringing her vision for the college to life and the things and people who have made her experience so special
a conversation with dean eleanor m green on:
i had gone back to the university of florida 14 years previously with the intent of finishing my career in my home state at my alma mater when texas a&m called i was reluctant to apply at first; however i had visited former dean john shadduck at texas a&m once before he took us to a football game where we stood for the entire game
i decided to research texas a&m further to help make my decision and my explorations confirmed that texas a&m was a large comprehensive tier-one research institution with immense capabilities its college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) was clearly a crown jewel of campus one that also boasted a strong undergraduate program i was intrigued by the texas a&m core values and its many traditions the vastness of texas its large urban centers the livestock industry its historic ranches the texas a&m university system and the proximity of the texas medical center in houston all contributed to a fertile environment for veterinary medicine and veterinary medical education i simply could not pass up this invitation
during my on-campus interview it took very little time to recognize the uniqueness and appeal of texas a&m and its cvm within half a day i was committed the formal offer came by phone when i was in liverpool england attending the british equine veterinary association meeting as president of the american association of equine practitioners (aaep)that was it; i was coming to texas my canine sidekick cohen and i packed up and moved leaving the horses behind until i could find accommodations for them
all strides were made with much help from others many within and beyond the cvm have contributed substantially to each and every accomplishment as they continue to do no progress could have been made without hardworking dedicated talented faculty staff and students as well as external supporters i would put the cvm faculty staff students and supporters up against all others people make programs
texas a&m similar to every other university has missions that include transformative teaching and learning discovery and innovation and outreach and engagement for the cvm world-class compassionate patient care is foundational
in the research arena veterinary colleges are uniquely positioned to advance animal human and environmental health this offers a breadth of research opportunities along a continuum from basic discovery to translational research to commercialization research funding appropriately includes the national institutes of health (nih) and other federal sources foundations industry philanthropy entrepreneurship and other creative means
with the decided goal of advancing the cvm research agenda my first action was to prioritize research by limiting my start-up requests to cvm research support i was able to obtain campus funds to complete the veterinary research building (vrb) which was under construction at the time and to provide the money to finish out all of the laboratories rather than require the principal investigators to use their own monies as had been planned
since then we have further bolstered research by taking advantage of opportunities as they arise such as the presidents senior hires the chancellors research initiative (cri) the governors university research initiative (guri) the hagler institute for advanced study the provosts excellence initiatives targeted hiring start-up funds adding designated research support staff and much more dr bob burghardt and his team have been highly successful in supporting research and graduate studies the existing research signature programs were revisited resulting in the identification of research focus areas and the development of tangible criteria for areas of research distinction all under the umbrella of translational research
toxicology oncology and environmental health sciences fulfilled the criteria for distinction with the texas a&m superfund research center reaching great heights graduate education support was completely revamped consolidating degrees aligning with research focus areas centralizing admission offering a rigorous week-long orientation and an oath ceremony actively recruiting creating a core facilities experiential learning program and providing professional development opportunities
over the past decade research expenditures have tripled the cvm graduate program has been cited as a model on campus research has incited great impacts and the contributing faculty and graduate students have received many well-deserved awards and recognitions
the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program is an enormous success with dr kenita rogers followed by dr karen cornell at the helm the professional programs office (ppo) has built a team of education specialists to foster educational technologies advance pedagogy and support faculty initiatives ultimately for the benefit of our students the dvm program received full accreditation in 2016 by the american veterinary medical association (avma) council on education with no substantial compliance issues the cvm has become known as a leader in veterinary education nationally and beyond
this reputation has been bolstered by the award-winning center for educational technologies (cet) this unique paragon has supported a myriad of initiatives including innovative educational technologies interactive learning experiences web-based learning curriculum development collaborations with other veterinary colleges and agricultural-capacity building in developing countries faculty opportunities are also found in the bridges teaching academy teaching showcase and cet lunch & learn workshops
the newly formed cvm white coats program allows students to contribute to the cvm while developing professionally
the dvm class size had not increased for many decades despite the growing texas population to meet the states needs it has increased from 132 to 162 students per class soon to be 180 the dvm curriculum committee has met annually to review and modify the curriculum to keep pace with changing needs with a recent yeomans effort by the ppo office and the faculty a completely revised integrated curriculum was implemented with core competencies mapped
our faculty are tapped by the profession to advance veterinary education worldwide such as the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) competency-based education initiative and the aavmc leadership academy
educational excellence at the cvm has progressed substantially all while minimizing student debt texas a&m remains the best in north america for our student debt-to-income ratio
the biomedical sciences (bims) undergraduate program has grown in size and excellence under the able direction of dr elizabeth crouch along with talented educators and advisers as elucidated in the recent academic program review for the southern association of colleges and schools commission on colleges (sacscoc)
the bims program was expanded to the texas a&m university higher education center at mcallen with a record number of students the overall bims enrollment is approaching 2 700 maintaining its status as the largest undergraduate degree-granting program on campus bims also boasts strengths in underrepresented minorities and first-generation students its undergraduate research program is cited on campus for its rigor and excellence bims graduates make up a large portion of aggies who matriculate to texas healthcare professions
a bims advisory board was formed and has proven to provide enthusiastic support for bims scholarships have increased and a bims outstanding alumnus award was created
the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) created a vision to be the premier veterinary teaching hospital in the world with a mission of creating a better life through compassion innovation and discovery praise from clients and referring veterinarians confirms that these efforts are successful the hospitals caseload and income continue to climb which allows the purchase of cutting-edge equipment and other hospital support this equipment includes advanced technologies like virtual reality artificial intelligence and support for a new telemedicine service both senior and new faculty are contributing to a rising level of excellence across many services
it has been imperative to advance the culture in the vmth of treating everyone the same which is to say royally at the same time it is important to know who each client is so that we can acknowledge them as indicated; for example if a loyal supporter and donor brings in a patient it is vital that we know enough about them to thank them appropriately if board of regents members are clients we should acknowledge them for all they are doing for texas a&m and the cvm another cultural component in the vmth is that people treat others as they are treated underscoring the importance of treating our clinicians staff and students royally as well
it is hard to say because i claim none as mine alone with that in mind i might say that the biggest accomplishment is gathering the team we have we have the most amazing leadership team ive ever seen the executive committee is comprised of leaders who are absolutely devoted capable talented and who have made this college much better each of them has in turn assembled teams of excellence in their respective areas the deans office staff under the leadership of misty skaggs is also the best i have ever experienced
im really proud to have been a part of putting these teams together every single member of the executive committee and of the deans office staff has joined the leadership team within the last 10 years they individually and their recruitment of other talented people have shaped this college through their collective efforts
culture starts at the top i have tried hard to create a culture of excellence integrity mutual respect transparency engagement compassion kindness and inclusion we must model these traits and mentor our colleagues the more we intentionally support and reward excellence while addressing inadequate performance the better and more fulfilled the whole team becomes
we intend to give everyone the encouragement and opportunity to achieve excellence most choose excellence but some do not and that must be addressed i have often said that our first choice is for people to be happy here the second choice is for them to be happy somewhere else and the last and only unacceptable choice is for them to be unhappy here
there are really good people and really good jobs but there are not always really good matches we truly care about people and want to help them achieve all of their career aspirations in whatever position that might be; in fact the one most rewarding thing about being dean of this college is being able to help others achieve their goals when we collectively bring our goals together and i can help advance them in any way it is enormously rewarding to see those initiatives come to fruition
creating and launching the global one health program has been particularly rewarding because of efforts like these the importance of the inextricable link among animal human and environmental health is finally being embraced by audiences beyond the veterinary profession for the first time ever in 2019 the presidents national biodefense strategy contained the elements of one health dr gerald parker and his collaborators have become noted resources in washington dc austin and on campus especially during the recent covid-19 pandemic the partnership with the bush school and other campus entities has proven successful including the annual global pandemic summits this effort opens unique opportunities for our students and faculty it also positions texas a&m and the cvm as valuable trusted resources
i am especially proud of the veterinary emergency team (vet) in 2009 dr wesley bissett came to my office to ask for permission to form a vet with the goal of being prepared for the next hurricane he added that he would do so on his own time i immediately said yes but that this was a college program and should be developed on college time he and his team have created the largest most sophisticated veterinary emergency response team in the nation
they have formed rich collaborations across the texas a&m university system (tamus) texas task forces texas division of emergency management (tdem) texas veterinary medical association (tvma) texas animal health commission (tahc) texas state guard private sector veterinary professionals texas communities banfield the avma the united states department of agriculture (usda) and other veterinary colleges i cannot count the number of comments of praise and expressions of gratitude i receive for their good works and also for the involvement of students we are the only cvm that has community connections rotations this is service above self like no other students learn not only how to respond in emergencies and disasters but they also gain experience managing teams
diversity and inclusion are cornerstone values of the cvm i feel strongly that people who cross our cvm threshold should immediately feel included embraced and accepted this encompasses all peoplewhether they are faculty staff students clients colleagues constituents visitors donors or anyone else
i remember asking dr kenita rogers if she would be willing to serve as the cvm director for diversity and inclusion she stepped up as she always does and the program materialized as the time demands of this program grew we discussed the idea that one day we might need a separate diversity officer later when i asked her if she were ready for someone else to step in she declined emphatically saying that she wanted to keep diversity and she did
i am gratified by all that has been accomplished we are leaders on campus within the profession and across the healthcare professions we have a council on diversity & professionalism multiple trainings wellness initiatives inclusive facilities diversity scholarships veterinarians for one inclusive community for empowerment (voice) broad spectrum and much more nearly 200 cvm faculty and staff have completed mediation training we have competed well for campus funds that reward success annually and faculty and students have received awards
now we have received awards at both campus and national levels including a third consecutive health professions higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award from insight into diversity magazine i am aware that some have questioned these efforts but make no mistake diverse teams outperform non-diverse teams enhancing excellence ingenuity workforce development and even improving financial success
i am also pleased with the cvm international program which encourages and facilitates our faculty and students to be world citizens in a global society the program under the leadership of dr linda logan offers rich study abroad opportunities student exchanges internships faculty visits and exchanges international development and capacity building the international program advisory committee ensures representation by cvm units in implementing and strengthening programs student experiences include summer courses in various countries semester long experiences and research programs
with regard to the changing landscape of veterinary medicine i have developed a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship we live in an exponentially changing world one in which even the rate of change is accelerating if our profession our college and our university are to be successful in the future we must respond to those changes and hopefully lead in that effort not just follow
the cvm also has developed a reputation as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship we have done many things to earn that reputation such as the annual veterinary innovation summit (vis) the veterinary entrepreneurship academy (vea) aggies invent and the dvm elective in veterinary entrepreneurship the vis in partnership with the north american veterinary communitys (navc) veterinary innovation council (vic) was the first of its kind attracts leaders in the profession and has been described by attendees as the best program ever attended
the vea has become national in scope with participation by students from many other veterinary colleges aggies invent is offered in partnership with the texas a&m college of engineering and some of our own faculty serve as mentors participating students experience firsthand the favorable consequences of working on diverse multidisciplinary teams and of freely contributing their own ideas rather than learning what others tell or show them students describe this experience as life changing
jeremy kenny who oversees the cvm office for innovation and entrepreneurship is a highly valued resource in advancing these programs
the students are our future it is our responsibility to prepare them well for the world they will enter and to give them the confidence to make a difference
the partnerships between the cvm and four tamus universities have been described as especially innovative
it has been satisfying to help create all of them especially the veterinary education research & outreach program (vero) on the west texas a&m university (wt) campus in canyon my first visit to the texas panhandle in an official capacity as dean occurred only a few weeks after joining texas a&m in 2009 that is where the partnership was born among the cvm wt practicing veterinarians and livestock industries that is when the first discussions were held about offering some of the dvm program in the texas panhandle
it took a while to knock down all of the barriers but the partnership is strong and the program is well on its way wt president dr walter wendler and his team have proven to be trusted partners as we were discussing vero and the proposed 2+2 program with texas a&ms president and provost we underscored the unique nature of this program how often is it that one has the chance with a modest investment to create a program that is the best of its kind the top in the nation
however its not just about being no 1; its about contributions the cvm can help feed the growing world population ensure the integrity of our food supply protect and grow the texas economy assist the veterinary profession and encourage our youth that is entirely within our grasp when one considers mobilizing the resources in college station and the texas panhandle where over one-third of the nations beef is fed at the 2020 veterinary deans meeting a few deans asked if they could visit this program as they would like to consider a similar model
particularly rewarding has been the improvement to the cvm facilities most notable is the $120 million veterinary and biomedical education complex (vbec) during planning stages a group of us visited other veterinary colleges; the university of california davis medical college; and stanford universitys medical school and college of business we extracted ideas from all sites especially from the new college of business at stanford
i recall well walking down the street at stanford with the stantec architects including dan caren who ultimately were awarded the contract to design vbec when they asked me what we were trying to accomplish i told them that when people saw vbec their immediate response should be that this must be the best veterinary college in the land this look must include a front door to the cvm lacking at the time with the building set back off the road with a tree lined boulevard entrance the building had to accommodate modern innovative teaching methods and technologies as far into the future as possible and that included flexible learning spaces for large and small groups the building had to be modern yet it had to be texas classy it must be warm and inviting such that people wanted to come inside and once inside they wanted to stay
the first designers were creative and gifted but they did not get texas after a number of attempts they were replaced and the next designers nailed it our friends in the college of architecture had helped us with the program requirements at the beginning and interestingly their initial rough design was close to the final design
i am enormously grateful to chancellor john sharp who supported this project entirely with permanent university funds the $120 million also supported the remodeling project for the small animal hospital the reception area is really nice as are all areas remodeled we desperately need a new small animal hospital
the $33 million thomas g hildebrand dvm 56 equine complex was also most fulfilling large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) executive director dr jim heird laid out every inch of the facility including the equestrian team facilities and the cross-country course for texas a&m athletics this facility has become a treasured resource on campus hosting more than 250 events and attracting more than 30 000 visitors per year the entire $33 million was from private donations the grand opening of the thomas g hildebrand dvm 56 equine complex was held on the same day as the vbec ground breaking that was a special day
there are other facilities projects for which i am appreciative the diagnostic imaging & cancer treatment facility is a state-of-the-art facility that has proven to be an enormous asset for the vmth and the cvm the schubot center for avian health is a one-of-a-kind academic center supporting teaching and research the multispecies research building provides much needed large animal space the global health research complex a collaborative campus space that was previously lacking will substantively change our research capabilities in infectious disease the highway 47 reproduction research facility has been expanded and veterinary medical park has improved tremendously the equine reproduction lab was expanded as was the food animal reception area the texas a&m institute for preclinical studies (tips) is an impressive research facility that is destined to become invaluable in supporting translational research and innovation in its next phase i regret that i will not be dean for the vero facility grand opening in canyon tamus chancellor john sharp once again devoted permanent university fund (puf) monies for this special facility
i have said many times that the position of dean at the texas a&m cvm is the best position i have ever held in the best place i have ever been why is that still the case it is the people it is particularly rewarding to work with such highly successful dedicated faculty the cvm students are smart devoted and attract the praise of our own faculty and staff as well as outside constituents the devoted staff make everything happen as they are constantly attentive to success and the impression we make the texas a&m core values are alive and well at the cvm
one of the most rewarding accomplishments was raising all of the salaries within the cvm at the time faculty salaries were in the lower-half to lower-quartile among veterinary colleges we were able to raise all of the faculty salaries well above the mean
i have also enjoyed working with many people across campus such as other deans provosts vice presidents presidents chancellors and the people who support them also included are those in the texas a&m foundation association of former students and 12th man foundation i have had the privilege of working with three provosts four presidents and three chancellors if interims are counted it has been a privilege to get to know them represent the cvm to them and help whenever needed to advance the greater mission of the university
i have enjoyed preparing and delivering each and every presentation about the cvm to these groups to make sure they are aware of the excellence of our cvm how we contribute to the university and system how we influence the state of texas and what it will take to make the cvm even better it is clear that we all share the goal of advancing texas a&m
i have thoroughly enjoyed the development aspects of the position because development is basically friends-building working so closely with the cvm development council the equine development committee the bims advisory board and the texas a&m foundation has been a joy these loyal friends of the college have given or helped raise millions of dollars of support for our people programs and facilities i will forever be indebted to each one of them for their gifts and their love of texas a&m that rivals ours you will see the names of many throughout the college on endowed chairs in buildings and on scholarships i have always said that it is gifts from our friends that help us achieve the level of excellence to which we aspire
with the risk associated with calling out one of them i share the story of the largest single gift we have received jim (heird) and i had planned a long-awaited vacation the first since we had been here to attend a horse show circuit the day before we were to leave we received a call from jeff hildebrand saying he would like us to come to houston to meet with him of course we would make that happen when we arrived he informed us of his intended gift of $25 million for the soon to be designated thomas g hildebrand dvm 56 equine complex he took our breath away and we were filled with a mix of emotions mostly humility and gratitude the rest as they say is history
later jeff told us how hard it is to give away money he said that gifts represented desires of the entire family he said he sought assurance that his wishes would be honored at the time and into the future very importantly he had to have trust in the individual overseeing his gift i have never forgotten those words that day in houston or that gift
betsy overholser offered a glimpse into the heart and motivation of our donors when she said i used to not care about making money but now i want to make a lot of money so i can give it all to the cvm those words reminded me that they are not our donors rather we are their cause
i also have found fulfillment in working with those outside of the cvm the cvm and the tvma built a mutually beneficial relationship and i was proud to be able to pay the membership fees for every cvm faculty member for several years the veterinary job & externship fair has proven to be a valuable shared event
unfortunately i did not make it to every local veterinary organization in texas but i did visit every one that extended an invitation there are too many industry groups to name but included are the houston livestock show & rodeo (hlsr) san antonio stock show & rodeo (sale) fort worth stock show & rodeo and rodeo austin there is nothing like aggie night at the hlsr; these organizations donate millions of dollars every year to student scholarships across texas and our students are beneficiaries the texas cattle feeders association (tcfa) also has been exceptionally supportive of the cvm
it has been a pleasure to work with all of the texas livestock groups and to visit most of the historic ranches in texas i call out the 6666 and the burnett estates llc because of their support for the cvm in gifts and educational opportunities for our students the head of their equine division is dr glenn blodgett one of our dvm graduates and a cvm outstanding alumnus another notable supporter is the historic king ranch including helen groves and james clement i have also had the opportunity to advocate for the cvm in the texas legislature and in dc dr charles graham has been a special friend of the college giving his time resources and connections he has advocated for the cvm constantly making impacts behind the scenes that few realize
in each of our lives our collection of experiences makes us who we are and gives us the tools to contribute my professional career in veterinary medicine started as a mixed animal practitioner and practice owner in a small rural community in northeast mississippi i have both heartwarming and humorous tales to share
having the perspective of a practicing veterinarian was foundational as i entered the academic setting the opportunity to enter academia to build a new college of veterinary medicine from the ground up was life changing we dived deeply into every aspect of a veterinary college from obtaining approval and financial support from the legislature to planning the entire curriculum which included developing a syllabus for every course with learning objectives for every lecture we designed and constructed a modern facility that was way ahead of its time we created admissions procedures developed position descriptions and recruited faculty and staff
i taught in all four years of the curriculum sometimes lecturing six hours a day to several different classes some of which were anatomy physiology normal and abnormal systems various clinical skills laboratories and even behavior we launched a clinical service and built a loyal caseload and referral service during this time i was approved for an alternative residency training program by the american college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) and sought board certification with both the acvim and american board of veterinary practitioners (abvp)
at the university of missouri i finally was able to pursue research i collaborated with dr harold garner and his team with a primary focus on endotoxemia and laminitis when the opportunity presented itself to enter an administrative role i was conflicted; however i accepted the challenge with the goal of making a broader impact i was a department head/chair and hospital director/chief of staff for a total of 19 years at two different universities
it was always important to remain connected to the livestock industries the horse industry and to be involved in organized veterinary medicine most importantly im an animal owner with a strong devotion to animal health and well-being all of these experiences have afforded me a unique perspective as dean
once someone asked me what i worry about every day i try not to be a worrier; however what i think about is the opportunity buffet how do we make sure that we do not miss opportunities we will later regret passing up yet how do we avoid taking on so much that we are not good at anything and how much do we take on without creating undue burdens for others
it is difficult not being able to accomplish all one wants to accomplish especially when the value and significance are clear resources are certainly related and are also limited it is hard to observe what faculty and students need for their programs and not be able to write a check every time an enjoyable challenge is identifying and seeking different perhaps creative sources of funding for various needs
a challenge in every administrative role is confidentiality the administrator is often privy to personnel issues and to both sides of controversial issues; however strict confidentiality must be maintained it is especially difficult to hear the perceptions and often misperceptions about these issues knowing the facts and not being able to share them administrators often receive misplaced blame as well that is just part of leadership roles
there are so many highlights they cannot be counted i will certainly never forget the day the chancellor agreed to provide $120 million for vbec or the day jeff hildebrand offered his $25 million gift then we had the groundbreaking for the veterinary & biomedical education complex on the same day that we had the grand opening of the thomas g hildebrand dvm 56 equine complex
imagine major events for two notable facilities each on the cutting edge on the same day that was a $150 million day later the vbec grand opening attracted the largest attendance of any grand opening in the history of texas a&m including national and state legislators of course all of the ground breakings and grand openings were highlights
the creation of the cet was the culmination of a long-standing aspiration we are leaders in veterinary education and the cet supports our faculty and helps them build on their great talents as educators few veterinary colleges have such a valuable resource
i am really proud of how weve expanded communications in this college we have made substantial progress in distributing our stories far and wide to help people in all walks of life understand who we are and how we contribute our photographers do more than take photos; they capture our essence and record our history our graphic artists are so creative they continue to earn accolades and awards
many outside of the cvm believe we outsource to a professional company; they are surprised and impressed when i tell them it is all done in-house because of the enormous talent we have when we write stories in a cvm today people tell me that while they usually throw away most of these types of publications upon arrival they keep ours using them as coffee table books because of the quality of publication and content those things make me proud
another memorable moment was learning about the texas monthly survey that asked texans when you think of texas a&m what do you think of they said the veterinary school no 1 and football no 2 now theres a moment
subsequently i got a call from the houston chronicles chief editor who said we have a retreat every year for our executive team at points of particular interest in texas may we have our editorial staff retreat at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences i replied of course you may he said we want to come there because we know that the cvm is iconic in texas and its one of the places that we would like to highlight that really does make me proud
there are actually many lighter moments that go along with being dean in my case they started even before i arrived during my on-campus interview dr kenita rogers then associate dean for professional programs had been assigned to pick me up at the airport much to our dismay my bags did not show up leaving only one slightly used outfit for my entire interview dr rogers took me shopping at target where i procured a texas a&m t-shirt and a pair of exercise pants they served as pajamas and lounge wear while i washed my only outfit in the hotel room sink i still have that target outfit and smile whenever i wear it
before i moved to texas a diehard aggie and big texas a&m supporter frank mueller called to ask if i had made living accommodationsi had notand temporarily offered one of his patio homes in chimney hill over the phone he gave me an address and a phone number with instructions to call jerome as i was pulling into town i found out later that jerome was jerome rektorik one of franks classmates and the development officer at the bush school
he greeted me that night along with the entire theriogenology section all of whom helped me unload my horse trailer a few weeks later frank called to say i had to move before graduation because his family would be coming to stay soon afterwards he called again to relay that i did not have to leave permanently; rather i should move out just while his family was in town
he gave me a new set of instructions to go to another address south of navasota where i would meet dr nora janjan carrying my suitcase and cohen i rang the doorbell of this perfect stranger to inform her i would be staying with her for a few days she and her husband jack were perfect hosts and even held a dinner party for friends of the college aggie hospitality is alive and well
another lighthearted moment was on the day of the grand opening of the diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment center (dictc) i had brought cohen for the 5k walk/run fundraiser paws to the pavement that preceded the ceremonies and realized that i had not thought the day through well with cohen as i had no place to put him during the stage ceremonies he was well behaved so i decided to take him on stage with me along with the invited dignitaries that seemed reasonable as i watched others address the crowd until i realized that i had to have a plan for him when i was speakingi couldnt just tie him to my chair or ask a board of regents member or the texas a&m president to hold him for me in a flash i decided to take him to the podium with me i placed him on the podium facing the crowd where he stood like a statue attentively scanning the attendees during my entire presentation regent jim schwertner was so amused that he took a photo of cohen on the podium there are few times i have seen regent schwertner since that he has not mentioned cohen on the podium that day and he has sent me the photo periodically since in the end we are veterinarians and we love our animals it is fitting for them to be a part of our lives and even our special events
dr kenita rogers and i began to develop a very close relationship from day one she has a remarkable sense of humor and i love humor so we both enjoy bantering one particular day when we were deep into our humorous exchanges in a public forum one of the faculty members asked someone else if we liked each other the answer was a resounding yes
william arthur ward sums it up by stating a well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life we all deal with daily pressures and i have always found humor stabilizing the cvm is balanced by its executive committee that gets along very well works hard and laughs harder it is a joy to work with a group of dedicated professionals who weave humor into their conversations erma bombeck took it a step farther when she said where humor goes there goes civilization our cvm is healthy
a university is never an island and certainly never should be its extremely important that we have vital connections across our campus and beyond our walls thats one goal that i have worked very hard onbuilding and maintaining relationships i encourage others to do the same
one thing i do not look forward to is leaving the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences that is going to be a very sad day for me i truly have loved every minute of every day here
what i will look forward to is utilizing all of my experiences to focus on areas of particular interest in veterinary medicine
a few buckets include innovation and entrepreneurship affecting veterinary health care and education leadership executive coaching and animal welfare i have already been asked to serve on boards of one startup and one large international companyit will be fulfilling to work on issues of significance to the profession with mark cushing founder and ceo of animal policy group i hope all will remember that i will help texas a&m and the cvm whenever desired and i will be a phone call away
riding my horses being on the ranch in millsap and spending more time with children and grandchildren are certainly draws to this new chapter
i will miss the people the most the cvm is family we have been through good times and challenges together
just that i cared and worked hard for the benefit of others the cvm texas a&m and texas
the main advice i would give is to love the cvm and trust and appreciate its people as much as i have the college is well-positioned for ongoing success the cvm executive committee can be counted on under any conditions i would urge the new dean to be a steward of vital connections both internal and external relationships
i hope the cvm will continue its constant attention to excellence and leadership in veterinary education the students are our future; theyre why were here we have to make sure that we do whats right for them that we give them all of the tools they need for a very successful career
we need to constantly build on research efforts from basic discovery to commercialization translational medicine must be leveraged value all research impacts build on those successes to-date and continue to be leaders in the research arena
define and build the vmth of the future to support veterinary healthcare that is connected; integrated; continuous rather than intermittent; proactive rather than reactive; precise rather than imprecise; and personalized rather than generalized these include business models technologies artificial intelligence robotics virtual reality and even digital humans but as the latest technologies are incorporated carefully preserve the personal touch with the compassion
i have really enjoyed the bragging rights that come with being dean it is hard to imagine how fulfilling and inspiring it is to talk about how great this college is and how great its people are
one of the things ill remember most about our college is the way it comes together around those in need whether its a student a staff member a faculty member or friend beyond the cvm certainly weve had some sorrows and some losses along the way and in each and every case this college has come together around those in need
in the end i can look back and say ive never worked as hard ive never had as much fun working so hard and ive never laughed as hard as i have here i will miss you all
thanks for the memories
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two postdoctoral research associates at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) have been recognized with 2020 distinguished graduate student awards from the association of former students (afs)
dr keshav karki from dr stephen safes molecular & cellular oncology laboratory and dr alyssa meyers from the sarah a hamer laboratory received awards for their significant research accomplishments and embodiment of texas a&ms core values
karki earned his doctorate in toxicology in 2019 as a graduate student in both the cvms department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) and the texas a&m interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology
he has coauthored 10 published manuscripts and presented his research largely on the development of anticancer agents at 11 local regional and national scientific meetings
most recently karki has been working with safe a distinguished professor and karkis faculty mentor to target the nr4a2 and nr4a1 nuclear receptors as a means for treating glioblastomas breast cancer and endometriosis
keshavs phd research has been outstanding safe said and his ongoing research projects including development of an nr4a2 ligand for targeting pd-l1 (a protein that researchers believe may allow cancers to evade the host immune system) in glioblastomas are also high impact studies
by helping develop a family of pharmaceutical compounds (c-dims) that bind and inactivate the nr4a1 and nr4a2 receptors karkis research has been instrumental in the recent licensing of this technology for future clinical development safe said
keshav has also been a role model for his colleagues in the laboratory in terms of his collaboration and mentorship and his willingness to help keep the laboratory functioning safe said
once karki completes his current research projects in the safe lab he plans to transition into a position in the pharmaceutical industry
meyers who earned her doctorate in biomedical sciences in 2019 has received numerous awards for her accomplishments as a researcher and mentor
working with hamer her faculty mentor meyers has contributed to eight peer-reviewed published papers and has presented her research at 23 different regional state and national venues
meyers research in the hamer lab has focused on exploring vector-host-parasite interactions in the chagas disease system by studying populations of working dogs owned by the us government she has made great contributions to determining the burden of disease and clinical outcomes of infection
her research has built bridges with government veterinarians extension entomologists the institute for infectious animal diseases (iiad) the department of homeland security the texas department of state health services and the centers for disease control and prevention hamer said she has been a true research leader
while working in south texas meyers discovered widespread exposure to trypanosoma cruzi the parasite that causes chagas disease among working dogs she then did further work to characterize the various cardiac abnormalities in infected dogs providing useful information for veterinarians and dog owners
during her time at the cvm meyers has also devoted much of her time to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students she was recently recognized with the 2019 ethel ashworth-tsutsui memorial award for mentoring from the texas a&m organization women in science and engineering (wise)
the positive culture in my lab and many of my teams successes are directly attributed to alyssa serving as a model student and setting a high level of productivity hamer said
meyers plans to pursue a career in government service working on epidemiology research outbreak investigations and enacting public health practices based on science
cvm alumna dr lauren lewis also received a 2020 distinguished graduate student award in the category of research lewis works at the cambridge massachusetts site of takeda a global research and development pharmaceutical company based in japan conducting research projects and developing models to improve safety evaluations
the award recipients will each receive a framed certificate and custom gold watch from the afs
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
laura ann grymes works with the center for educational technologies (cet) to ensure that learners with visual disabilities like herself and other disabilities can more easily navigate the colleges abundant online learning materials
technology has become a crucial mechanism in veterinary medicine education
as such ensuring that all studentsincluding those with visual auditory motor or cognitive disabilitiescan easily navigate required software applications and other online materials is equally as important
this concept known as digital accessibility is an essential component of the overall higher education student experience because nearly every aspect of academic life now leverages digital or web-based tools and applications
as part of a society that is constantly plugged in colleges and universities recognize the vital need for incorporating technology that not only enhances student learning and campus life but also is universally accessible to students staff faculty and visitors
the center for educational technologies (cet) housed within the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is recognized as a trailblazing advocate for ingraining accessibility within the framework of curriculum development
while many of todays current technology tools have the ability to check for accessibility (which can include tagging pictures loaded onto a website and even sentence length) they fail to offer the vital feedback the cet views as most important to true accessibilitythe learner experience
to gain a true glimpse into how all types of learners interact with the cvms online courses and materials the cet sought a fresh perspective from a learner who relies on assistive technologies to navigate digital content
in june 2017 laura ann grymes a member of the local community who is blind joined the cet as a program aide to assist the team in ensuring materials produced by the center meet both americans with disabilities act (ada) standards and support the learner in gaining new knowledge
laura ann is an invaluable member of our team said molly gonzales cet instructional assistant professor watching her interact with the content we have created and listening to her share her experience is humbling and insightful our partnership with laura ann was the catalyst that changed our perspective on how we develop new digital learning tools and experiences
the cet and grymes partnered to further enhance the centers stepstone online authoring tool by transforming it into a fully ada-compliant web-based platform stepstone allows educators to produce interactive media-enriched learning resources that can be accessed from any internet-enabled device
addressing accessibility is an issue shared by all who rely on digital content said tim ponder cet instructional technologist beyond the legal considerations digital accessibility is a component of good design and delivery potentially enhancing all users educational experiences
grymes collaborated with ponder and dan shuta cet multimedia developer and the brain behind stepstone to discuss best practices in accessibility and share some of the most common challenges faced by learners with differing levels of abilities in an online environment
working with the cet and the cvm has been a gratifying experience grymes said it is rewarding to be part of a team passionate about making materials accessible for learning and who are actively working to remove challenges to help students grow and learn efficiently
as a result of grymes collaboration with the cet now both authors and end users can experience the benefits of a fully ada-compliant authoring platform
content-building authors can incorporate ada components directly within stepstone by placing alternative text and long descriptions on images while end users have the ability to use keyboard shortcuts or spoken instructions via a screen reader to navigate the course
many cvm faculty members use stepstone to build online case studies in which students make decisions on how to proceed through a clinical case from the patients admission to discharge
these case studies have provided future veterinarians with a safe space to practice their critical thinking skills using real-world scenarios based upon former texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) patients
grymes continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that stepstone generates accessible content for all learners she has performed quality assurance testing on several of the stepstone modules and often offers suggestions for how to improve the student learning experience
laura ann has taught us how to view online learning through a new lens one that goes beyond the initial assurance that the content and resources are accessible to also consider the language and descriptions we use within our writing gonzales said
am i painting the appropriate picture with the words that i am using or is my lack of clarity a potential barrier to someones learning she has really opened our eyes to give careful consideration to the details that really bring the whole picture together
grymes is looking forward to continued work with the cet and increasing awareness of accessibility considerations in digital environments
true accessibility is way more than just checking off a box to say its accessible grymes said i love that this team has high standards and makes teaching modules accessible for all learners
through collaborations with partners like grymes the cet and cvm will continue to blaze the trail for integrating accessibility within academics and the campus culture
to learn more about utilizing stepstone to create accessible content visit http://txag/stepstonelearning and to learn more about the cet visit http://wwwtamucetorg
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
although dr ashley saunders regularly implants canine pacemakers she found herself confronted by multiple challenges as she worked through the night to save birdies life
when birdie arrived at the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) with an extremely low heart rate dr ashley saunders knew that immediate action was necessary to save the 7-year-old beagles life
as a veterinary cardiologist and professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) saunders had seen birdies symptoms many times
cases with arrhythmias or slow irregular heartbeats come into the sah on a weekly basis; if caught in time the condition is typically fixed with a treatment that is routine to saunders but often a surprise to the general publicby implanting a pacemaker
these surgeries are usually minimally invasive with a quick recovery time but in birdies case it would take a team of specialists an entire night to heal her heart
in may 2019 birdies owner katherine mcleod noticed that birdie was acting sluggish and behaving abnormally
it was really odd it was like she was just cranky mcleod said over the next couple days she got pretty lethargic and acted like she didnt want to go outside or do anything she was still eating and drinking but she clearly didnt feel well
mcleods local veterinarian in waco discovered that birdie had an abnormally slow heartbeat and recommended a medication for treatment but the medicine only helped for a few days so when the lethargy returned on a saturday afternoon mcleod knew that her best option was to bring birdie to the sah where she entrusted saunders with birdies care
birdie had a really low heart rate called third-degree av (atrioventricular) block saunders said the middle part of the heart stopped working so the top and bottom couldnt communicate well
this miscommunication contributed to birdies slow heartbeat lethargy and overall unwell feeling
almost immediately after the diagnosis saunders fourth-year veterinary student amanda tabone and sah staff began preparing to implant birdies pacemaker
typically you want to put a pacemaker in through the jugular vein in the neck saunders said thats the ideal way to do it so we took her back to do that but the pacemaker electrically would not capture her heart this can happen in rare cases and we have to quickly adapt
saunders moved to the next option which involved surgically screwing the pacemaker into birdies heart through her chest thanks to help from dr whitney hinson a small animal surgery resident they finally got the pacemaker attached and working properly
but because of the unexpected issues with the pacemaker birdie remained under anesthesia for longer than they initially planned and more complications began to arise
we were in surgery into the middle of the night at that point saunders said dr (bradley) simon the anesthesiologist stayed with us the entire time and we ended up having to spend even more time trying to get her to wake up after the surgical procedures because her lungs were slow to reinflate
finally birdie improved by the next day the pacemaker had brought birdies heart rate back to normal speed and she was able to go home to waco with her family
dr saunders called me that morning and said miracle of miracles basically mcleod said she said ‘you can come get her shes doing great you could tell in her voice that she was excited
while birdies case had several setbacks canine pacemaker implants are typically much less complicated according to saunders she sees canine pacemaker cases at least once a week on average for a variety of dog breeds and ages
everybody is always stunned when i say im a veterinary cardiologist saunders said people always say ‘what people put pacemakers in their dogs yes we can do that and we do it a lot that always surprises people
its exciting with older dogs because people often think their dog is just getting older and they are cautious about spending the money to put a pacemaker in at that age saunders said i tell them weve paced a lot of older dogs and people frequently tell us that their dogs energy is way better; what they have attributed to aging was actually low heart rate i think that encourages people to move forward and then it allows the dogs to have their activity back
for saunders being able to perform those life-changing procedures and getting to work with a variety of other sah services in the process makes the high-stress career worth it
people dont realize how high-stress it is to be a cardiologist because it feels like life and death all of the time saunders said but in the moment you have to keep thinking because you really have a patients life in your hands; you just have to keep problem solving until you get it
i think it helps the more experience you have but you also have to be really level-headed she said you have to keep making decisions because when you look around everybodys looking to you to make them
at the sah saunders finds relief from her stress in the daily student interactions and opportunities to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of veterinarians
as you go along in your career you realize that you were once the one being helped and now you can help other people reach their goals saunders said it is really rewarding the students identify where they want to go and then you can help them along that path
tabone was excited to have the opportunity to scrub in for surgery and help care for birdie post-operatively especially because of her love for beagles
i was the student on call the weekend birdie came in tabone said and i always joke that if im going to get called in i hope its a beagle because i have an overwhelming attachment and love for this breed
tabone who has three of her own beagles fell in love with birdie and was thankful to be involved in her case
i enjoyed getting up early every morning to care for birdie tabone said i cant describe it but i feel there are patients were fortunate to have a special connection with that we cant predict and i immediately felt that with birdie
it was incredible to see the transition she made from being very gloomy to being excited and ready to go home with her family she said i was really lucky that i got called in for this case
birdies case was also meaningful for tabone because it was her first clinical experience and her first opportunity to be hands-on in a surgical setting; when birdie arrived at the sah tabone and her fellow fourth years had just begun their first week of clinical rotations
we had a really unique cardiology rotation from a student perspective because all of our residents were gone for their board exams so it was just the students and dr saunders tabone said we got to be one-on-one with her for two weeks which i found incredibly amazing because of the amount we learned from her and how hands-on we were with all of our cases
tabone also interacted with mcleod and her family to keep them updated on birdies progress even after birdie returned home tabone made a habit of checking in with mcleod to make sure birdie was still feeling well
birdies mom mailed a letter to the teaching hospital and ill definitely keep it for my entire career tabone said she had the most kind and sincere things to say about me and the work that dr saunders did i plan to have it framed in my office and when im having a not-so-great day i can read it and think of my experience with birdie and her family; itll forever be great motivation for my career
likewise mcleod was extremely grateful for tabones genuine love for birdie and the fact that she went above and beyond in caring for both client and patient
amanda is going to be one heck of a veterinarian mcleod said whatever she decides to do in whatever field i would go to her in a heartbeat just for her bedside manner shes going to have a big-time career
back in waco with her new canine pacemaker birdie returned to her normal active friendly self within a week
anytime you want to take her on a walk she gets all fired up about that she loves her treats and all the different food that she gets mcleod said shes great with skittle (mcleods other beagle); theyre best buds and theyre very happy to be back hanging out together
i pray for my dogs every day and im so thankful that birdies still here and that shes healthy she said its just really incredible
as a huge baylor fan mcleod had no experience with texas a&m before birdies procedure at the sah besides rooting against the aggies on gameday
it was funny when we went to pick birdie up she had her maroon bandages on and what i like to call her ‘aggie haircut because they had to shave parts of her mcleod said i said ‘what come on man no green and gold bandages the hospital staff said ‘hey youre at a&m
i said ‘you know what forever we will root for the aggiesunless theyre playing us which is very unlikely these days she said but its funny nowany time i watch football i say ‘im for a&m just for a&m
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
well-being involves the mind body and spirit says dr nance algert a member of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) office for diversity & inclusion
well-being is staying connected to ourselves and knowing ourselves well enough to know what we need algert said well-being is also being mindful about being connected understanding that we dont have to do things alone and that to isolate and do things alone can be problematic
according to the merck animal health wellbeing study approximately one in 20 veterinarians in america experience serious psychological distress including depression burnout and anxiety and while half are seeking treatment only 16% utilize well-being resources available through national or state veterinary organizations
in an effort to improve well-being in the veterinary profession the cvm has focused on providing resources for students faculty staff and administrators for several years
most recently maintaining well-being among employees has been a top priority during the covid-19 pandemic
some employees began working from home in march and have been isolated since while others at the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) have faced many new challenges as they continue to serve the people and animals of the community and state
its a complex time and none of us has done this before algert said were in a marathon not a sprint so weve really got to take a little bit of time each day to ensure that we are taking care of ourselves
to help their colleagues find those daily moments of well-being algert executive associate dean dr kenita rogers and other members of the office for diversity & inclusion are providing cvm faculty staff and administrators with many new resources for maintaining physical mental and emotional health
each week rogers updates an ever-growing list of well-being resources that covers a variety of subjects from addressing fatigue to supporting children during covid-19 the list currently containing more than 100 individual resources is being sent to employees in weekly emails and compiled on the cvms covid-19 well-being resources webpage
the idea for the resources list was a team effort said rogers who also serves as director of the cvms office for diversity & inclusion
at first we were brainstorming what the diversity & inclusion office could do to help the vmth as they were really on the frontlines in dealing with many new situations related to covid-19safety concerns different client interactions stressful working conditions etc she said we quickly realized that the changes were stressful for everyone in the college and wanted to share these resources with anyone who could use them
for those who wish to discuss specific concerns either personal or professional the cvm is also offering one-on-one and group facilitated dialogue opportunities algert is hosting these discussions to support her coworkers and help manage any conflicts that arise in the workplace from the added stress anxiety and fear the pandemic has created
amy savarino the vmth chief pharmacist is one of many employees who has participated in these facilitated dialogues
being a supervisor i wanted to make sure i had my head on straight and that i felt like i could tackle this issue savarino said life was changing and it went from normal to abnormal so fast we all went through something and none of us knew how to handle it; none of us has ever handled it before so even the best prepared person wasnt prepared
it was really easy and just such a pleasant experience she said nance was encouraging and uplifting she just added a calmness and peace that i needed at that moment
providing these well-being resources not only plays a role in keeping employees happy and healthy it also helps them do the best job possible when teaching students and caring for vmth patients
taking care of ourselves is not just important but is also a responsibility algert said we can only give to others what we can give to ourselves
whether the cvm eventually returns to life as it was before the pandemic or continues to adjust to a new normal the office for diversity & inclusion hopes to keep well-being a priority for employees
i hope that there is a real sense of community at the cvm rogers said frankly how we take care of each other and support each other particularly during difficult times defines who we really are when we look back i hope we can say that the cvm made it a priority to care for one another and that we were genuinely an inclusive community
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
chickens eggs serve as the foundation for three innovative studies currently underway through the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences groundbreaking initiatives the biomedical research & development certificate and the aggie research scholars program these programs are designed to help undergraduate students learn to do research
both are the brainchild of dr christopher quick a professor in the department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) he started the programs in 2016 and they have grown to be the two largest undergraduate research programs at texas a&m
although these two programs provided semester-long research opportunities to more than 800 undergraduates they are not even close to meeting demand
approximately one-quarter of undergraduates at texas a&m get a chance to engage in research before graduating the aggie research program typically attracts three undergraduates for every research opportunity quick said last year we could only support 50 percent of the undergraduates applying to the biomedical research certificate program we recruit broadly not to generate interest but to make sure everyone has a fair shot at participating
he showed up in the fall semester in one of my freshman seminar classes you see this really eclectic professor come in shouting about this program said janisah saripada 21 a biomedical sciences major who plans to attend medical school my friend and i said why dont we try it out it looks like a cool research opportunity
both programs which serve students across texas a&m universitys campus use research-intensive communities a model that involves teams of students coming together to work on research in groups instead of as individuals
the model also encourages students to try a different research paradigm
our research is more like ‘see something test something and then get more questions from that test saripada said when you experiment and get more knowledge your questions about the subject matter grow exponentially
ultimately this program prepares students for doing research in their careers as well as graduate school
i think its a really good way to get hands-on experience because a lot of places want research but its not being offered to undergraduates said animal science major erin oconnor 21 this is a good way for undergrads to get their foot in the door and get some actual real-world experience
bims major oula eldow 21 and her team are using chicken eggs to study the effect of radiation on lymphatic vessels the eggs which are grown in flasks after being removed from their shells allow students to easily witness changes
being able to grow the eggs this way is very helpful because the blood vessels become really accessible eldow said we can see how radiating these eggs will change the diameter of the lymphatic vessels we also can see if these vessels grow differently when we radiate them versus if they werent radiated
the team believes this research will help them get a better understanding of radiation treatments used for cancer
when you radiate a tumor to stop its growth or kill its cells the cells in the tumor get a very high dose of radiation so they die or their growth is stopped said eldow who wants to become a pediatric primary care doctor with a goal of eventually working in a neonatal intensive care unit (nicu) there is a side effect in the cells surrounding the tumor such as lymphatic cells and blood cells these cells get a smaller dose so our experiment is on low-dose radiation this low-dose radiation doesnt kill these cells but it does change the function we want to see what these changes are
saripadas team developed their topic through meshing some initial research interests initially she was interested in researching how a ketogenic diet affects the bodys blood vessels she met another student who was interested in looking at the effect of glucose in the body
i thought ‘oh it would be a perfect idea to mesh these two projects together and look at one single disease diabetes because diabetes affects the levels of glucose and ketones in your body the junior noted
using a chicken egg offers a useful way to study this problem
we add glucose which is a type of sugar and ketones which are chemicals produced when your body doesnt have enough insulin to convert sugar into energy saripada said were basically trying to model diabetes specifically gestational diabetes using the chick cam model since it has many similarities to human embryonic development
oconnor and her team are using chicken eggs to try to detect changes in the microvascular structure through low doses of sodium fluoride
we chose this because we found other studies that showed that sodium fluoride affected embryo growth in frogs the uvalde resident said we know that sodium fluoride can be in daily products such as water and toothpaste so we are trying to see what happens with low doses are they actually harmful or is it something that needs to be watched out for
the research may open doors for additional research on the microvascular systems response to other teratogens
teratogens are any agent or substance that affect the development of an embryo such as malformations or birth defects oconnor said this is important because we want to be able to identify any environmental factors that can pose a detrimental effect to a developing embryo or fetus
these programs also give undergraduates the opportunities to develop skills that will serve them both inside and outside the research lab
the most valuable skills ive learned have been realizing how to work with team members and how to use everyones skills to really push the project in a positive direction in order to see results oconnor said
eldow has enjoyed the opportunity to grow as both a researcher and a leader
this research is something that im very passionate about she said its helped me grow as a leader and grow as a student
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the covid-19 pandemic may have created a need for social distancing among individuals but when it forced higher education to move online veterinary educators saw an opportunity to share resources and bring veterinary colleges around the world closer together than ever before
at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) faculty members have been at both the giving and receiving ends of that collaboration
the cvms center for educational technologies (cet) had already positioned the college as a leader in these endeavors by not only offering a variety of online veterinary education resources but providing them for a fee on a platform designed for distributing to other institutions as well
when the covid-19 pandemic forced veterinary classes to move online the cet offered their online learning modules case studies and videos to any instructor with a need for them; the free resources will remain available until july 1
we already had a mechanism to deliver these resources to other schools through our commercialization program said dr nicola ritter cet director and instructional assistant professor we had about five schools using our resources before we began offering them at no cost and since then weve had about 33 more come on board
these resources are designed to help instructors teach a variety of veterinary topics from creating a local anesthetic plan for dental work to the different types of surgical knots
we want to support our veterinary medical community and educators (by offering these resources for free during the pandemic) ritter said its a small community and theyre our colleagues so we wanted to be able to help them when they needed to get an online course ready within a week or two after the pandemic hit
in addition to having helped instructors create online preclinical classes earlier this year these resources are proving useful to the many fourth-year veterinary students across the country who are unable to complete clinical rotations in person this summer
rather than using materials the students have already seen in the classroom instructors can use the cets resources during virtual rotations to introduce new case studies and reinforce practical skills
while the cet was sharing resources with veterinary faculty across the united states some cvm faculty members have also supplemented their online classes and rotations with resources created and shared by other veterinary colleges
the university of missouris clinical pathology team has offered their full digital slide archive to fellow veterinary educators across the country including those at texas a&m these slide images which show thin layers of tissue blood and other bodily fluids can be easily accessed online to help students learn to diagnose and monitor diseases
the university of missouris team has displayed such generosity and collegiality in helping other institutions teach students during a time of uncertainty said dr dana kneese a clinical assistant professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) we know how much work goes into generating a digital slide database and sharing their hard work with us demonstrates their selflessness
additionally cvm anatomy professors have utilized a free veterinary anatomy website from the university of minnesota college of veterinary medicine and an online image bank from the american association of veterinary anatomists (aava) to supplement online anatomy courses and labs
the aava has also connected instructors from different institutions to allow them to share ideas for teaching anatomy virtually
incorporating resources from other colleges can provide students with access to specialists and learning materials that are unique to certain institutions therefore on top of allowing for smooth transitions to online classes the sharing of education resources between veterinary colleges has increased the range of information students have to learn from
for example dentistry and dermatology are specialties we have at the cvm that other schools may not ritter said also even if another school has someone in that specialty they may have a different context or different perspective so it is taught differently
many colleges including texas a&m are preparing to have students back on campus next fall but ritter hopes the collaboration between veterinary schools will continue when classes are no longer online only
the cets model is that we develop curriculum using extramural grants which means we seek out collaborators within our institution and with other institutions because having multiple institutions coming together makes for a strong proposal she said im hoping that this experience will provide us more opportunities to collaborate through research grants to develop our materials
no matter what the future holds veterinary educators can rest assured that their colleagues will be there to lend a helping hand whenever needed
the veterinary community has been just open-handed with willingness to do anything and everything they can ritter said its been a bit overwhelming at times to see how much people are just willing to say ‘where can i help and how can i do it its amazing to see the willingness of people wanting to do things to help
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr dana gaddy has been blessed with the support of many so now shes paying it forward by using the lessons shes learned to build relationships with her own students
dr dana gaddys mentor joanne richards once told her people are like plants you just need to give them a bit of water and let them grow
that philosophy is so deeply rooted into gaddy that she tears up when she speaks of her relationship with richards and what mentorship now means to her as a professor in texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs)
every single person jo mentored feels that she played a key role in their having a fulfilled life gaddy said catching herself as her voice softly begins to break just because you have 50 graduate students and postdocs does not mean that you have 50 happy fulfilled graduate students and postdocs what was important to her was to build 50 relationships thats what its about
and indeed that has been what its about for gaddy; mentorship she believes is for life
shes been blessed with many mentors throughout her life starting during her time as a phd student at baylor college of medicine where richards was her adviser
i was always mystified by her ability to take students who would come into her lab as postdoctoral fellows but really were not on the same wavelength as the rest of the folks and by working elbow-to-elbow with them and through regular conversations she would figure out what made them tick gaddy said then she would place opportunities in front of themsome of which were not academicthat would put them in the direction where theyre going to be happiest she didnt just mold them after herself
this was modeled by another set of influential mentors drs gideon and sevgi rodan
i met gideon when i was a brand-new faculty member and was doing stuff that was really kind of heretical to the bone field at the time gaddy said (she focused on the importance of the reproductive hormone inhibin in menopause when the scientific consensus placed the sole significance on estrogen)
he and his wife sevgi were like the mom and pop she said they always did things for their mentees even those who went off to other companies or would go back to academia people who left would always come back and the rodans kept track of them
her relationship with the rodans made it particularly poignant when this fall gaddy received the gideon a rodan award for mentorship from the american society for bone and mineral research (asbmr)
he took lots of people under his wing even those who didnt have anything to do with merck gaddy said he would mentor everyone who seemed to want to listen to what he had to say and his words of wisdom were usually spot on
that scientific progeny concept is one that i was steeped in as a young faculty member as a young scientist as a graduate student and it stayed with me she said
gaddy sees herself as a different kind of mentor in part because her mentee pool has been much smaller than previous rodan award winnerswho have 10-20 trainees at any given time compared to the three typically working in gaddys labbut also because she comprehensively evaluates her students and their potential understanding that what is best for the student may not be best for her
part of it is paying attention and trying to read people like my phd adviser did to try to understand what it is that really is making them tick gaddy said if i give them something to do and they hate it or they love something else i see it as my responsibility to figure out how i can provide them more of that so that then they see the success they feel the success and they want to go do more in that direction
its also included helping students evaluate what their end-goals are earlier in their academic career and encouraging them to pay attention to whats happening in all job sectors before they start a dissertation and it becomes too late to change their minds
many graduate students coming into my lab initially think that they are going to do what i do but that ends up not really being their path gaddy said my job is to help them find whatever the path is and then help them find a way to get there
as a result some of her graduate students have moved into other cvm faculty members labs; in other cases she has adopted trainees working in colleagues labs
she estimates that she is probably actively mentoring six former students one current doctoral student and a handful that are affiliated with other cvm laboratories; it is that idea of connecting people across areas whether its for mentorships or just networking that is important for gaddy
i have done more of that for other peoples students than i have for my own not even people at my institution she said ive been involved in the endocrine society and the women in endocrine society as well as the bone society and other groups for which weve done professional development events about how to choose a mentor how to set that mentoring conversation and relationship up and then what to do if it doesnt go well or how to launch out of somebodys lab to gain independence
while the connections shes made and the award shes won have been rewarding the ultimate reward in her eyes is seeing her students succeed in advancing science in their own ways among her mentees joshua bertles is her current phd student in the biomedical sciences graduate program; kristy nicks phd is a program director at the national institutes of healths national institute of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; tristan fowler phd is a research scientist director at the biotech company surrozen; and daniel perrien phd is an associate professor at emory university
thats what im most proud of because you never know what that student is going to want to do when they first walk in your door she said i try to spend time programmatically identifying or at least providing exposure to opportunities that will help them learn what it is that floats their boat and when they find that theres no better reward
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a recent study by dr gus cothran professor emeritus at the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has found that the cleveland bay (cb) horse breed has the third-lowest genetic variation level of domestic horses ranking above only the notoriously inbred friesian and clydesdale breeds this lack of genetic diversity puts the breed at risk for a variety of health conditions
genetic variation refers to the differences between different individuals dna codes populations where there is high genetic diversity will have a wider range of different traits and will be more stable in part because disease traits will be more diluted in populations with low genetic variation many individuals will have the same traits and will be more vulnerable to disease
the cb is the united kingdoms oldest established horse breed and the only native warm-blood horse in the region used for recreational riding driving and equestrian competition the cb is considered a critically endangered breed by the livestock conservancy
because maintaining genetic diversity within the breed is important to securing the horses future cothran and his team worked to gain comprehensive genetic information about the breed to develop more effective conservation and breeding strategies
in this study published in diversity researchers genotyped hair from 90 different cb horses and analyzed their data for certain genetic markers these samples were then compared to each other as well as to samples from other horse breeds to establish the genetic diversity within the breed and between other breeds
both the heterozygosity and mean allele number for the breed were below average indicating lower than average genetic diversity within the breed this low genetic diversity should be seen as a red flag for possible health conditions
low diversity is a marker for inbreeding which can cause low fertility or any number of hereditary diseases or deformities cothran said with overall population numbers for the breed being so small such problems could rapidly lead to the extinction of the breed
the cleveland bay horse society of north america estimates that only around 900 cb purebreds exist globally such low population numbers mean the breed is considered to be critically rare
this study also evaluated the diversity between the cb and other breeds using a majority-rule consensus tree a type of analysis that shows an estimate of how different clades or groups of organisms sharing a common ancestor might fit together on their ancestral tree
cothran and his teams analysis found that the cb did not show a strong relationship with any other breeds including other breeds within the same clade though this could be a result of the low genetic diversity within the breed these data suggest that the cb is genetically unique from other breeds these findings place emphasis on the importance of cb horses as a genetic resource
the cb is an unusual horse in that it is a fairly large sized horse but it is built like a riding horse rather than a draft horse cothran said noting the uniqueness of the breed it frequently is bred to other breeds such as the thoroughbred to create eventing or jumping horses although this is a potential threat to maintaining diversity in the cb
cothran hopes his research will help to inform conservation efforts supporting the longevity of the cb breed as well as inform breeders on how they can more responsibly further their horses genetic lines
if any evidence of inbreeding is observed breeders should report it to scientists for further analysis cothran said efforts should be made to keep the numbers of cb horses as high as possible and to monitor breeding practices to minimize inbreeding and loss of variability
domestic animals including horses are also at risk of declining populations just like endangered species but research can help determine which populations (breeds) are at risk and provide possible directions to help reduce risks or consequences he said
though cb horses are currently at risk cothran remains optimistic that careful monitoring and management of the breed can preserve them as a cultural and genetic resource for years to come
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr dusty nagys holistic approach to veterinary care was borne from her personal experiences with chiropractic and acupuncture treatments
the familiar sound of a mooing cow echoes through the clinic this time the noise is not coming from a patient but from dr dusty nagys cellphone
a bovine lover to her core nagys passion for her profession radiates from her everywhere she goes
a clinical associate professor of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) nagy spends her time teaching future veterinarians and treating patients in the clinic sometimes in uncommon ways
as a new faculty member nagys unique work in animal chiropractic medicine and acupuncture makes her an integral part of the team
currently nagy is the only veterinarian on staff to offer chiropractic care to patients however she hasnt always been a chiropractic believer
in fact she used to be skeptical of the practice in both humans and animals
that was until a few years ago when back pain had taken over nagys work life; she said she had not slept through the night in years
my husband and i were trying to figure out how i could retire early because i just couldnt work anymore nagy said it was just too painful
one day nagy was examining a cow when she suddenly felt the all-too-familiar debilitating back pain
all i was doing was palpating a cow i wasnt even doing something stupid by my standards nagy said with a laugh
in agony she fell to the floor where she would stay for the next two hours
to appease her technician nagy went to the hospital only to be offered pain medication a remedy she did not desire upon returning to work the receptionist who had been badgering nagy for years to see her chiropractor had already made nagy an appointment
i looked her dead in the face and i said ‘i dont even care if they kill me i will go because i cant do this anymore and i went and i got the most thorough exam i had ever gotten from a doctor that i can remember nagy said
after her initial appointment nagy returned to the chiropractor a couple of days later for her first adjustment for the first time in years she slept through the night
it turned me into an absolute believer that when applied appropriately chiropractic treatment can be useful my experience and outcome made me go ‘you know what maybe i should learn more about this nagy said i decided to learn acupuncture because with production animals we do not have a lot of options for pain control and i thought that this would be a good tool to add to my toolbox what i realized in class is that acupuncture can be used in animals for a variety of conditions
today nagy uses acupuncture and chiropractic treatments on many animals; she has seen how both can help improve the quality of life and longevity of her patients
most often i think people seek out acupuncture for animals in pain or those with behavioral problems she said i still use acupuncture primarily as an adjunctive treatment along-side western medicine most often for pain control when others ask me for an acupuncture consult on a case it is often for patients that have failed to respond adequately to western medicine and we are attempting to exhaust all of our options
nagy grew up in an environment that prepared her for the busy lifestyle of a food animal veterinarian working in an academic setting
nagys father encouraged her at a young age to remain busy; she was told to find a jobor he would find her one
so nagy spent much of her free time working on farms on the outskirts of the maryland town in which she lived caring for the animals sparked her interest in being a veterinarian
i was one of those who decided i wanted to be a veterinarian when i was really small nagy said and it stuck i love what i do; i wouldnt change it for the world
she completed her bachelors degree in three years splitting her time between colorado state university and the university of maryland before going directly into cornell universitys veterinary program she says she found the first year of veterinary school to be an uphill climb
im not sure i was ready for that kind of commitment nagy said remembering how she struggled her first year as the years went on vet school got a lot easier
during her last year in veterinary school nagy decided to pursue a post-graduate internship and was matched with the university of missouri which wasnt her first choice but would ultimately turn out to become home
it was the program i liked the most but i didnt want to go to missouri nagy said i had always thought of it as a fly over state
nagy was only supposed to stay for a year but toward the end of her internship the university of missouri asked her if she would be willing to stay for a residency
she eventually decided to stay and about a year and a half into her studies the program hired a new section head
my entire life course changed from the second he walked into the building nagy said he tried to convince me to roll my masters into a phd and i told him no until the very end of my residency
not only did nagy go on to complete her phd but when her husband who is also a veterinarian was given the opportunity to complete a diagnostic imaging residency at the university of illinois urbana-champaign nagys section head allowed her to accept a faculty position there while completing her doctorate
after nagys husband finished his residency the couple contemplated their next step nagy interviewed at other places but missouri just really still felt like home she said
and so back to missouri they went and there nagy was happy working with people she likedby all accounts i was going to be there until the end that was my life plan to stay there i never ever thought about moving nagy said
throughout her career at mizzou she occasionally received calls from colleagues at texas a&m about job opportunities during a 2018 call nagy was intrigued by the cvms new curriculum for veterinary students but she was still not interested in moving
that changed when nagy finally decided she would visit the cvm although she viewed the trip more as a way to rid the recruitment phone calls than find a new job it took only half a day to feel like she would be a fool not to pursue a position at the cvm
so what changed nagys mind
its a great place theres so much opportunity here nagy said the support is phenomenal this is an opportunity to finish out the rest of my career in a place of resources
now that shes at the cvm nagy said she looks forward to building a new reputation with her students and clientele in the years to come
i was really well-loved by the students at missouri and sometimes you go well here i am in a brand-new place and can i actually recreate that do i actually do a good job or was it just an urban legend they all believed nagy said you know its not a bad thing to have to prove yourself every now and then
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
at texas a&m selfless service is one of the six core values that unite every member of the aggie network with volunteering opportunities ranging from big event to those driven by numerous student organizations aggies find many ways to give back to the local community and beyond
for daniel anthony a fourth-year veterinary student at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) selfless service is one of the most defining aspects of his life in fact its a family tradition
anthonys family has been in the restaurant business since 1912 during the great depression his great-grandfather opened a soup kitchen behind his café and gave away most of his income to feed hungry neighbors
this practice of caring for the community continued in the 1960s with anthonys grandfather who was the first restaurant-owner to desegregate his eatery in the familys hometown of san antonio
he started a movement across all of the big restaurant chains in texas to desegregate anthony said although it was not the popular opinion or decision at the time he thought it was the right thing to do
today anthony sees his grandfather who graduated from texas a&m in 1943 as his main inspiration for pursuing a life of selfless service he even wears his grandfathers aggie ring which is so worn down that the iconic symbols arent recognizable
i wanted to be an aggie because of those qualities that the school has the pillars of excellence anthony said i thought my grandfather perfectly utilized them in his life and i wanted to make my life very similar or at least lead by his example in veterinary medicine
service to me is the ultimate platform of my family values to give back and serve the community he said while they do it by food i want to do it through this profession
to me theres nothing more special than connection with people he said i think its a double bonus being a veterinarian because the human-animal bond is so strongits even more of an impact being there for people
at the cvm anthony serves as president of the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) class of 2021 working with his officer team to organize events for the class and promote the needs of his fellow veterinary students
i really wanted to challenge myself and i knew that one day i wanted to own a practice and lead a community anthony said i wanted to get the tools to learn how to lead and manage people and also be there to serve our class
with anthonys class being the first to experience a redesigned dvm curriculum he was especially determined to make sure his classmates had the tools they needed to be successful
i knew that a positive culture and a growth mindset were going to be really important for that process he said
in fall 2019 anthony and his fellow officers decided to further that positive culture by supporting veterinary students outside of the cvm as well when they heard about the passing of samantha lin a fourth-year veterinary student at the north carolina state college of veterinary medicine they decided to create a large condolence card to be signed by cvm students faculty and staff
that was to bridge the veterinary school community together anthony said unfortunately its over grief but hopefully we can shed some positive light onto samanthas story and who she was when i presented that to our class i made sure people knew more about samantha and let her legacy shine on through texas
anything to bind our veterinary community together is something im passionate about he said
anthony is also a member of the white coats program at the cvm which works to foster a positive culture within the college
this program working with the professional programs office represents and promotes the cvm during admissions interviews orientation for incoming veterinary students and other student-centered events graduation alumni events and community outreach events
as one of the inaugural white coats anthony has helped shape the program into what it is today
what drew me to it was that it was all about giving back he said i feel like if you dont go through life without helping those who helped you or helping someone else get to the position youre at then that to me is not success success is giving back and reaching up and helping a larger group of people get to where they need to go
after graduation anthony plans to open his own small animal clinic and connect with the larger veterinary community by getting involved in the texas veterinary medical association (tvma)
my vision is that when someone walks into my clinic they have this amazing experience and their animal is able to get the services it needs but they also come out feeling better than when they came in he said im really going to want to emphasize quality service and make sure that the medicine is the best it can be
he also looks forward to serving those in his future community by finding ways to pass on what he has learned about both veterinary medicine and selfless service
i want to carry on a lot of these things ive learned in veterinary school and get involved with the high schools he said i would love to go in and do some presentations to get kids interested in veterinary medicine and show them what this professions really about
i want to let people know that veterinarians arent just here for animals were here for the community as well
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
search and recovery dog remington is now enjoying retirement thanks to the care he received from the small animal hospitals oncology service
it was a training day like any other when rachael crivelli noticed that her dog remington a search and recovery canine for the navasota fire department developed a limp after slipping during an agility course obstacle
remington was still limping two days later but crivellis local veterinarian was unable to provide a diagnosis
soon after crivelli met dr deb zoran a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) at an urban search and rescue (usar) training event and was encouraged to take remington to the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) where a team of specialists could work to discover the cause of the limp
after several tests and visits with various sah services remington was diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor a common but often misdiagnosed form of cancer
crivelli who had worked with the 8-year-old labrador retriever mix for nearly his entire life was heartbroken by this diagnosis but knowing how much remington had done to serve others she decided to do whatever it would take to get him back on his feet
they say a dog will let you know when its time to go crivelli said remington was letting me know he had a lot of life to live
crivelli felt a call to serve and began her career as a firefighter following the sept 11 terrorist attacks
she rescued remington when he was only 4 weeks old and soon after began training him for an important rolelocating human remains whether it be a deceased body or the smallest drop of blood following a crisis like 9/11
together they have volunteered to search for human remains at crime scenes and disaster sites across the state even contributing to a 30-year-old cold case in south texas
we have searched a burnt house that somebody was suspected to have been murdered at and remington assisted in locating the exact room where the person died crivelli said
we deployed during hurricane harvey and searched in neighborhoods for anybody who could have been deceased she said luckily we didnt have to locate anybody during hurricane harvey
in addition to this work remington also served as a mascot for new caney fire department for several years and then for navasota fire department until his cancer diagnosis and subsequent retirement
he would go to public relations events to greet members of the public crivelli said having a k-9 allowed firefighters to be more approachable; people or kids who might have too much anxiety to approach firefighters normally were always more comfortable with remington around
he also was a great comfort after making tough calls she said we would come back from a cpr call or a fatality wreck and it was interesting to see remington go up to all the firefighters and let them pet him he knew when people needed loving from a big furry teddy bear even on searches he would comfort the searchers as well as the victims family
thats what i miss most with him being retired crivelli said he was a comfort dog more than a search dog at times
remingtons tumor ran from the spinal canal to where the femoral nerve entered his right hind leg causing him significant pain and requiring an intensive surgery of several hours for removal
this type of tumor is not very common but often misdiagnosed early on because initially the signs are so gray said dr brandan wustefeld-janssens an assistant professor of surgical oncology its very common for these dogs to be lame for up to six months and have several rounds of x-rays yet their veterinarians never find anything wrong eventually when they come in here they are very painful or the atrophy is so severe that it is now obvious
crivelli a cancer survivor herself knew that remington had more life in him and deserved the opportunity to beat his cancer
his job was to assist families and law enforcement with justice by helping provide answers she said he fought for those who couldnt fight so i had to give him a chance to fight for himself
wustefeld-janssens and a team of oncologists and neurologists removed the right side of remingtons pelvis and his leg opened the last three intervertebral spaces and cut the femoral nerve as close to the spinal cord as possible
the cutting of the nerve is a really important step because number one we hope to remove the entire tumor and two if there are no pain signals back to the spinal cord these dogs feel much better wustefeld-janssens said
after surgery remington recovered quickly and was soon cruising on three legs as is typical for dogs who have undergone an amputation he improved greatly once the source of his pain was gone
dogs are incredible in that we can remove half of remingtons pelvis and a big part of his back and then two weeks later hes running and jumping over small walls wustefeld-janssens said
luckily crivelli wasnt alone in her support for remington after he was diagnosed she reached out to project k-9 hero a national nonprofit organization that helps fund medical care for retired police k-9s and military working dogs
i purchased a bag of sport dog food and on the back of it was a story about project k-9 hero crivelli said its for police and military dogs but remingtons a search and fire dog i thought ‘ill just try so i filled out their application and two hours later i got a call from the founder jason johnson who said remington was accepted to the program
project k-9 hero covered remingtons full surgery cost with funds raised entirely through donations as a k-9 hero remington will also receive free food and medical care for the rest of his life
we felt that because of his age and because of how much life he had left in him providing the surgery was going to allow him to live a high-quality life for the next couple years hopefully johnson said were honored to serve heroes like remington heroes who dedicated their careers to protecting our communities
with 34 deployments and six confirmed finds on his résumé remington has earned the right to a relaxing semi-retirement from his search and recovery career
he now spends most of his time at home with crivellis family while continuing to greet citizens and help the navasota fire department with public relations he also is serving as a project k-9 hero representative to help other k-9s receive the same support he did
im grateful for texas a&m surgeons students and technicians and for project k-9 heros financial support crivelli said i feel i made the right decision to have a very major surgery done i dont think he wouldve survived this surgery if we went anywhere else
remington appears to be feeling better than he has in years crivelli said he is playing ball swimming and just loving life
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) staff members and 14 members of the veterinary emergency team (vet) have been recognized with 2020 presidential meritorious service awards by texas a&m president michael k young for their commendable service to texas a&m university
recipients of this highly prestigious award have demonstrated their commitment to the aggie core values of excellence integrity leadership loyalty respect and selfless service young said to each of them i extend my most sincere congratulations and deep appreciation for their tremendous efforts that make texas a&m such a great place to live and work
all cvm recipients of the 2020 presidential meritorious service awards were nominated by dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m
as assistant to the dean for the past eight of her 17 years at texas a&m cornett is directly responsible for providing high-level administrative support to the office of the dean and deftly serves as a personal assistant and liaison to the dean and the chief of staff
she also plans and coordinates logistical and administrative support for meetings events specialized activities projects and long-term initiatives
dianne is very talented at resolving complex highly sensitive and confidential administrative matters and is a true asset to our college green said having worked side-by-side with dianne for many years now i have had many opportunities to view her flawless work ethic and witness her rising to any occasion and challenge
dianne truly has a servants heart that shows through both professionally and personally her strong work ethic positive attitude and enthusiasm for her job inspire others around her as she works selflessly to advance the cvm green said
i am always impressed at how well she manages the complexities of her role with the greatest of ease she makes my professional life and the life of the college so much richer productive and rewarding when she is in charge of anything consider it done and consider it done well she is the best administrative assistant i have encountered in my more than 40 years in academia
hale has served as assistant dean for finance for the past eight years and has worked at texas a&m for more than two decades
in her role she is essential in making absolutely certain that the cvm is always an example on campus for business practices financing responsibilities financial service orientation human resources and the highest ethical standards she provides policy and procedure interpretation on financial and administrative concerns and is the point person of the cvms annual budget
in the 22 years that belinda has worked for the cvm she has demonstrated selfless service and loyalty through her impeccable work ethic and dedication in her role belinda has consistently been looked upon by faculty and staff as a person to whom they can turn to for both routine and confidential matters
she has changed perceptions implemented new processes and built a transparent system of resource management that contributes new strength to our cooperative style of decision making green said belinda leads through personal example and her example has inspired others to expand their skills and education and aspire to greater levels of performance and personal challenge she works diligently and with a contagiously positive attitude that encourages everyone in the cvm family to make our college the best in the nation
the vetwhich includes cvm staff members laura beach elizabeth bernardo garrett carr brooklyn cupps sandra daniels norberto espitia megan hackman dlisa hidalgo warren hohertz susan lobit cynthia schocke stuart slattery jennifer wier and jennifer wilsonis the only state-level veterinary medical care provider in the state of texas emergency response plan
when deployed the team remains at the emergency site nights weekends and holidays until their critical assignment is complete loading and driving heavy trailers; setting up a mobile hospital; connecting power sources; establishing communications; joining with other local and state emergency services; and ultimately assisting the veterinarians community and injured animals during multiple types of disaster situations
just last year many of them stepped up as leaders and deployed to the california wildfires leaving their families right before the holidays and not returning until mid-january
these are the people who run toward the flood the fire or other emergency green said in preparation for hurricane harvey making landfall on the texas coast the vet left days in advance to set up for the disaster that awaited texas they then spent weeks serving texas residents and animals and are truly committed to ‘serving our state and nation every day the vet is the epitome of aggies demonstrating selfless service and loyalty
the 2020 presidential meritorious service award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on monday aug 10 at 10 am in the bethancourt ballroom of the memorial student center
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global public health that affects humans animals and the environment; in fact in recent years the world health organization (who) has named it a top 10 public health threat for the world
texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) students learn about antimicrobial resistance throughout their veterinary curriculum including in microbiology and pharmacology classes as well as during their fourth-year clinical rotations in the cvms veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
but when drs virginia fajt and sara lawhon completed their work with a clinical and laboratory standards institute (clsi) committee to produce the first comprehensive resource for understanding and interpreting antimicrobial susceptibility test results they knew that the report would not only be of value to working veterinarians who tend to have a limited understanding of a very complex topic but would also be of value to veterinary students who are introduced to the concepts during their curriculum
the report understanding susceptibility test data as a component of antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings has been years in the making after continued discussions within committees at the clsi and american veterinary medical association (avma) on the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and on the necessity of this kind of document fajt and other experts put together a proposal to finally bring the project to fruition under the auspices of clsi
the end resulta product of a committee of professional microbiologists pharmacologists and veterinary clinicians including lawhon and led by fajt and program manager lori moonaddresses challenges veterinarians face every day in understanding how antimicrobial drugs work and how veterinarians can use laboratory data in their decision-making for antimicrobial stewardship
antimicrobial stewardship means in general implementing management and prevention programs so that antimicrobials arent needed in the first place so that animals dont get bacterial diseases when thats possible fajt said it involves using good decision-making tools having all of the necessary information the high-quality evidence to select an antimicrobial or decide whether an antimicrobial will make a difference; to choose an antimicrobial that will make a difference; and then monitor individual patients for response but it also includes monitoring antimicrobial use in your practice setting in a way that allows you to quality-assess your own decision making
so the goal of this document is to protect antimicrobialsthat antimicrobial susceptibility the ability for antibiotics to workas a societal resource; all of this is something that we all have responsibility for fajt said our responsibility as the veterinary profession is to do the best we can to maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics use the resource wisely and make good decisions as opposed to easy decisions
the report is unique for several reasons
while textbooks generally provide information on antibiotics as drugs and focus on what they do and how they work there has been relatively little information on how veterinarians should choose among the many antimicrobial drug options
in addition as the first comprehensive source of information on the topic and the first resource that targets practicing veterinarians this resource works to guide practicing veterinarians decision-making not necessarily in choosing a drug but to understand the information (such as lab results) that will help them choose a drug according to fajt
as the clsi document was taking shape lawhon decided that it would be a huge resource for cvm students
for them to get the maximum benefit out in practice from it having the opportunity to work with it in advance would be really helpful she said right now the information shared in classes on this topic is disparate so this document helps unify that story in a way that hasnt been done before
lawhon and other professors who teach about antimicrobial resistanceincluding fajt and drs johanna heseltine joanne hardy jeffrey musser mark johnsoncreated a proposal for internal funds to provide a copy to all students and integrate the subject into the new curriculum as a progression with students learning different aspects of antimicrobial stewardship during all four stages of their veterinary careers
i really felt that this was a great opportunity for our students to bring this in at each level of the process lawhon said we had asked the vmth to buy a copy for every service so that clinicians can use it when talking to fourth-year students about their decision-making processes in selecting an antibiotic for their patients
then our students could carry this document and these lessons with them out into practice to think through stewardship programs for their own antimicrobial decision-making processes and to start thinking about a stewardship program for their clinics she said
the cvms professional programs office (ppo) approved the proposal and free copies were provided to all four veterinary classes including the recently graduated class of 2020 which will also have the opportunity to attend a webinar by fajt and lawhon to learn how to use the resource the cvm is the firstand possibly the onlyveterinary school in the country to share the resource with their students and integrate the content in this way
the ppo office deserves credit for recognizing that antibiotic resistance is a huge issue in the profession fajt said its certainly a conversation that we have across the profession so making the commitment as a college to provide this kind of teaching toolthat in some ways is sort of narrowly defined yet is so important to how veterinarians make decisions about antibioticsreally demonstrates a commitment to antimicrobial stewardship
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
emily hoskins a third-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has plenty of experience in the spotlight as an opera singer now she is learning to take center stage in a surgery theater as well
hoskins love of opera singing began long before her interest in veterinary medicine ever since hoskins was a young child her mother and two older sisters reinforced a love of singing and opera that has been passed down from hoskins grandfather
i remember waking up in the mornings when i was very little hoskins said when it was time to get ready for school my mom would have classical music playing she would love to play ‘name that composer or ‘name that opera with me growing up
pursuing this interest hoskins became involved with her junior high choir as she progressed she had the opportunity to perform with the houston grand opera and was very involved with her high schools theater and choir program by graduation hoskins set off to pursue a college degree in vocal performance with the intent of becoming a professional opera singer
however while completing general education courses at texas a&m galveston hoskins plans shifted as she discovered a love for the sciences with the help of academic advisers at the college station campus hoskins decided to transfer to main campus and pursue two undergraduate degrees at texas a&min animal science and in music and voice
i felt like i was getting to use both sides of my brain when i was sick of studying for organic chemistry i could go and memorize the german for the piece i had to sing for voice studio the next day hoskins said i really loved having both the science and the art side
though hoskins path of study worked well in providing variety to her education there were moments when her two worlds mixed in humorous ways
my favorite story is when i was taking my meat science class for animal science; it was right before my theory class in music she said i had my knife scabbard from my meat science class and was running late so i ran straight into my theory class with all my other music classmates
they asked ‘what is that and i said ‘this is my knife scabbard i just came from meat science class where we were learning how to butcher hogs she recalled at first there was this silence but then they started asking questions which was so cool because it was combining those two worlds and i was able to answer some of them
hoskins said she believes there is more interaction between the science and art worlds than people realize with a mutual curiosity connecting the two she also thinks that her involvement in both worlds has taught her how to communicate with people of many different mindsets a skill essential to veterinary medicine
after graduating from texas a&m with dual degrees hoskins remained at the school to pursue a masters degree in animal science and physiology of reproduction she enjoyed delving deep into one corner of science but left the program wanting to explore the broader picture she applied to veterinary school at the cvm and was accepted on her first attempt
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i completely fell in love with physiology and the sciences it made me really excited in a similar way that singing did she said i just knew that this was the right path for me and i really wanted to explore this world more i would always have music and singing and i could always come back to it im learning that i can do both
indeed at the cvm hoskins has found a group of other veterinary students with similar backgrounds who gather to destress and connect through music
hoskins also hopes to apply skills she learned in performance to her duties as a veterinarian
i try to pull from the breathing techniques and the things i would do to stay calm before singing before doing surgical procedures she said the difference is when it came to singing and performing i got to prepare every little thing before i performed with surgery and dealing with animals unexpected things can happen and you do just have to think fast and jump in
she appreciates that many veterinary students come from unique backgrounds and that though the rigor of veterinary school may make it difficult to engage with other worlds doing so can only enrich ones experience
you should absolutely be proud of and emphasize anything that you have that gives you a unique story and is a different path than other people followed to get here she said thats what makes you able to bring your own unique skills and your own unique background to veterinary medicine which is awesome
her continued involvement with music has enriched her life and hoskins asserts that staying connected with ones hobbies is an important but conscious choice especially in a program as rigorous as veterinary school
i would encourage anybody to find some outlet even in first year it might not be an every week thing it might be a once a month thing she said if theres a piece of yourself that you have before veterinary school dont shut that down
its what makes you you she said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
five faculty members at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) have been honored with this years distinguished achievement awards from the association of former students (afs)
the university-level afs awards are presented each year to faculty and staff who exhibit the highest standards of excellence at texas a&m
this year the cvm had the most awardees from any college or division with recipients honored in more than half of the award categories
chaney a clinical assistant professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) was recognized for teaching
chaney contributes to multiple courses within the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) curriculum often using her experience in equine medicine to teach on a variety of subjects
dr chaneys passion for teaching her command of her discipline and her various teaching methodologies is very apparent in the classroom setting one nominator said in addition to being a knowledgeable and effective teacher dr chaney also cares greatly for her students
as a member of the cvms professional programs office (ppo) chaney helps develop the dvm program curriculum and works to advance veterinary education both within the cvm and the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) she was also recently recognized with a presidential award for meritorious service from the aavmc
as one of the lucky few who have been able to experience dr chaneys radiant energy i can attest to her outstanding ability to accommodate a variety of student performance levels her genuine care for every student and her exceptional communication skills said another nominator and former student of chaneys
porter a clinical professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) also was recognized for teaching
he instructs veterinary students in the areas of pathology and diagnostic medicine and also supervises the veterinary anatomic pathology combined residency-phd program
dr porter is an excellent role model who embodies leadership traits and possesses the unique ability to relay information to students/residents that is easy to understand and retain one nominator said dr porter has played a critical role in the success of the residency program at texas a&m university
porter serves as both a teacher and mentor for his students with many former students saying he inspired them to pursue careers in pathology he has also been recognized with the carl j norden-pfizer distinguished teaching award from zoetis
he has taken modern teaching methods in stride and keeps the students attention and interest with interactive lectures gaining excellent student evaluations along the way another nominator said
johnson a professor in vibs was recognized for research
his work at the cvm studies the interactions between the embryo/fetus and uterus during pregnancy with the ultimate goal of reducing pregnancy loss in women livestock and companion animals
by every measure of excellence and international recognition dr johnson is a research leader in his field of reproductive biology one nominator said dr johnson has established himself as a highly accomplished researcher and truly outstanding teacher and mentor
dr johnsons laboratory has studied the unique physiology of pigs and sheep to establish many of the key molecules involved in initial attachment of the placenta to the uterus
he found that the protein osteopontin (opn) has diverse roles in mammalian pregnancies including nutrient transport homing of immune cells to the uterus during pregnancy and the genesis of new blood vessels in the uterus and placenta required to support fetal development
dr johnsons pioneering research contagious enthusiasm and common sense have thrust him into positions of high professional responsibility another nominator said he is frequently called upon to review research papers and grant proposals; he has served on the editorial boards of the most prestigious journals in the field of reproductive biology
steiner a university distinguished professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) was recognized for extension outreach continuing education and professional development
as director of the gastrointestinal (gi) laboratory he oversees a staff of scientists technicians and student assistants as they perform testing services to help veterinarians around the world diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases in dogs and cats
dr steiner collaborated with numerous colleagues not only from veterinary but also from human medicine from all over the world one nominator said the comparative aspects of his work are of great interest and help to generate funding demonstrated by the impressive number of his (competitive) research grants
steiner is also a world leader in the study of canine and feline pancreatitis having devoted much of his research career to developing the first accurate and reliable method to test for these conditions
dr steiners impact on the practice of small animal veterinary gastroenterology has been profound another nominator said his research and study of both canine and feline pancreatic diseases over a span of 16 years helped to revolutionize the diagnostic approach to this condition
safe a distinguished professor in the department of veterinary physiology and pharmacology (vtpp) was recognized for graduate mentoring
within the molecular & cellular oncology laboratory also known as the safe lab he mentors graduate students as they work to develop anticancer agents and a new class of drugs for treating endometriosis
dr safe has been an extraordinarily supportive and highly inspiring mentor to many graduate students including myself said one nominator who previously worked in the safe lab he has mentored a plethora of graduate students the majority of whom have highly productive scientific careers most importantly his guidance lead to the overall development and character of a graduate student to serve and lead in their own professional and personal lives
safe has mentored 97 phd students 18 master of science graduate students and more than 20 postdoctoral fellows
dr safe is always willing to share his scientific experience vision and knowledge to find career-related information and exposure to various professional resources opportunities meetings and networks said another nominator and past graduate student in the safe lab furthermore he has provided both emotional and moral support and encouragement through career related counseling and coaching
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team of researchers including dr leif andersson a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has found that parallel evolution between domesticated chickens and pigeons has resulted in regulatory mutations in the same genes that govern foot feathering in both species
poultry geneticists have long studied the inheritance of a prized fancy chicken breeding traitfeathered legs
the foot feathering trait in question known scientifically as ptilopody can be observed in domesticated and wild avian species and is characterized by the partial or complete development of feathers on the skin of the ankles and feet
foot feathering is an interesting case since although it is a very recognizable trait that can be very easily selected to fixation in breeds it is in fact not a monogenic trait caused by a single gene andersson said
in evolution parallel evolution is known as the independent development of similar physical traits in separate but related lineages in other words when faced with adaptation nature can go to the same genetic toolbox to come up with new solutions
in a study published april 28th in molecular biology and evolution andersson and co-authors report that the same two genes tbx5 and pitx1 responsible for foot feather patterning in pigeons are also responsible for foot feather patterning in domesticated chickens
andersson and his colleagues set out to find which genes and specific mutations correspond to two previously studied alleles or gene variants known as pti-1 and pti-2 which have been previously found to contribute to foot feathering in chickensand if these corresponding genes and mutations were the same as those previously identified as governing foot feathering in pigeons
they employed controlled breeding to generate a three-generation mapping population of chickens with a mix of feathered and clean legs the research team then used genetic analysis to spot mutations and genetically characterize 167 chicken populations with or without feathered legs
the identification of causal mutations in non-coding parts of vertebrate genomes is challenging due to the difficulty in deducing or experimentally proving functional significance andersson said here we have presented strong genetic evidence for causality for two non-coding mutations affecting the feathered leg phenotype in domestic chicken using a very large data-set from chicken with or without feathered legs
thus not only are the same genes involved in foot feathering phenotypes in pigeons and chickens but the nature of the mutations are also very much the same at least in the case of pitx1
the study reveals a remarkable convergence in the evolution of the feathered leg phenotype in domestic chickens and domestic pigeons as this trait is caused by non-coding mutations in the regulatory instructions of the same two genes the results show that ptilopody has evolved by running on separate but parallel tracks in chicken and pigeon
these two cases add to a growing list of regulatory mutations controlling phenotypic traits in domestic animals by altering the expression of important transcription factors andersson said the present study also illustrates that novel phenotypic traits in domestic animals are often caused by the same mutations across divergent populations because favored mutations have been spread from population to population due to strong phenotypic selection
this study can also help future researchers by providing a road map for how to identify causal mutations from large datasets and by providing gene candidates that warrant further investigation in regard to leg feathering and other traits in different species
the extensive collection of whole genome sequence data which is publicly available provides a powerful resource to identify genomic regions and corresponding causal mutations associated with these phenotypes as successfully accomplished in this study andersson said
furthermore feathered legs occur in many other bird species for instance in most owls but not in all if you would like to study the genetic basis for variation in leg feathering within a species or between closely related species tbx5 and pitx1 are the obvious candidate genes to start with
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr michael goldings approach to his work both in the lab and the classroom is predicated by asking the questions very few people consider
story by courtney adams
today anybody who sells alcoholic beverages must adhere a label to their product with the following statement: government warning: (1) according to the surgeon general women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects
the statement focuses on womenwith no mention of men
this oversight is to no fault of the us surgeon general because it is widely accepted that fetal alcohol syndrome can be blamed solely on the woman however dr michael c golding and his research team at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) are challenging that very principle
growing up on a farm in canada golding did not envision himself as a researcher
ive always been fascinated with understanding how things work and why so i think that component of being curious was always with me he said but i dont think that i ever consciously wanted to be a scientist
intending to go to medical school golding attended college at the university of western ontario as a biology major a developmental biology course he took during his third year however changed his career trajectory
the lecture the professor gave on this thing called spemann organizer (a cluster of cells responsible for the induction of the neural tissue during development) just blew my mind golding said this led me into this fascination with development and understanding how it is that our bodies are organized and programmed
after graduating with his bachelors degree in 2000 golding decided to pursue his phd and left canada to study under dr mark westhusin a professor in the cvms department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) with whom golding spent his early years examining the development of cloned embryos
after completing his doctorate golding left texas a&m to complete two postdoctoral fellowships one at cold spring harbor labs and one at childrens health research institute at the university of western ontario before eventually coming back to texas a&m
golding now an associate professor in vtpp currently focuses on the effects that male alcohol consumption has on the development of fetal alcohol syndrome (fas) characterized by various mental and physical defects fas signs can include facial deformities learning disabilities and growth abnormalities
it became very clear to me as i started this research that there was a piece of this that was missing golding said
so in 2012 he asked a simple questiondoes a fathers drinking affect the development of the fetus
because the idea challenged a societal norm he was met with some pushback and funding was difficult to come by at first
i would get comments back on my grants why are we doing this fetal alcohol syndrome is the womans fault golding said they were just of the mind this is not something that should be investigated
but golding was determined that he had a question worth asking
i took the components that they liked and stitched them together into a smaller grant he said
finally in 2014 he received a national institutes of health (nih) grant to initiate his research a project in which golding simply gave alcohol to male mice and mated them with naive female mice
the fetuses that were sired by the alcohol-exposed males were smaller and their placentas were abnormal he said we had this just very blatant not complicated phenotype
the grant lasted for two years but it took another three to convince anyone that this was worth exploring further
thats where we started and weve been chasing that ever since golding said
in june 2019 the keck foundation granted $900 000 to golding and his colleagues to continue the research
the big thing that they wanted was something that questioned the paradigm golding said i put up the surgeon generals warning and i was like look this is what im questioning; its absolutely going against the dogma they loved it
ultimately i want to try and figure out how dads drinking fits into the larger picture of fetal health adolescent health and then ultimately adult health golding said any offspring is the sum total of their experience in uterotheir mothers exposures prior to conception or during pregnancy her diet and i want to find out what dads role is in that piece of the pie
currently golding has three graduate students and a postdoctoral fellow in his laboratory together they are working to define the signaling (communication within the cell) and epigenetic mechanisms (those arising from nongenetic influences on gene expression) for how alcohol interferes with developmental processes
ive had people come to me and say ‘how much do you have to drink to see a problem golding said the truth of the matter is we have no idea how alcohol is doing this and thats kind of what the central pillar of my research is trying to figure out
dr goldings pretty open to challenging the standard said yudhishtar bedi a phd student in goldings lab when we do find data that says somethingthe opposite of what other people have found and maybe two or three labs have foundhe doesnt back down from it hes always showing me the way to be i guess fearless in a way
students working in goldings lab are also motivated by the potential for their research to benefit the public
i feel like a lot of the things that were doing right now have a lot of real-world impact postdoctoral fellow nicole mehta phd said
one may question if goldings research has had any influence on his parenting ideologyhe has three young children: two older boys and a daughter
i dont think i could disentangle being a dad from being a scientist golding said i cannot simply say to my daughter ‘ok you need to be healthy whereas to the other two ‘you can go out and do whatever you want
when golding is not in the lab he can be found teaching classes at the cvm currently he teaches fetal and embryo physiology a course both undergraduates and graduates can take together and epigenetics & systems physiology currently only offered to graduate students
in his classes golding says he enjoys dispelling myths students have picked up over the years about reproduction
i consider it a special thrill he said they have certain facts and statistics that theyve picked up on the playground through school that are absolutely not true
one former student katie poulter 15 remembers goldings class as detailed and difficult but that golding was willing to spend extra time on anything that was troubling for students
i could tell he loved what he was teaching about poulter said that made a big difference
when teaching complicated subjects such as human development golding tries to tell stories to help students remember the details for years to come
i make sure i have a section on spemanns organizer he said its good to go back to my inspiration
goldings teaching philosophy speaks to his desire for his students to succeed
i consider the teacher to be a person whos giving their sales pitch‘i want you to become like me he said
in his research lab golding teaches by training the next generation of scientists
hes so nice and down to earth he tries to get to know us and have that mentor/mentee relationship that everyone wants said kara thomas a biomedical sciences (bims) masters student in goldings lab
golding likes making students into skeptics
the other component of my professional life that i really enjoy is to bring students in and say ‘you were taught these things but now you need to question everything he said
that growth is very rewarding to see golding said i have students in the lab who come in and they get onboard with questioning different things and then after a couple years its like they dont even need me
golding has had two students proceed to prestigious postdoctoral fellowshipsone at md anderson and the other at university of california irvine a third student is currently working at seattle childrens hospital
golding believes his research would be more challenging without his colleagues at the cvm
theres such a breadth of skillsets and interests here at a&m that you can ask questions like the ones im asking and you dont have to go too far for help golding said the environment is stimulating its diverse and it is highly conducive to good research
if there was only one concept the public gains from his research golding hopes it is that chronic drinking has an impact on not only their own well-being but also their offspring
males have an important role in the health of their offspring beyond simply contributing healthy genes golding explains
he hopes that one day he will pick up a beer bottle to find the surgeon generals warning label has changed to incorporate men too
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
some of the processes have changed around the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) large animal hospital (lah) because of the covid-19 pandemic but animals and their owners are still getting the great care the hospital is known for
according to clinical associate professor of veterinary surgery dr joanne hardy the recent case of nadar a 12-year-old arabian gelding highlighted how well the lah has adjusted
nadars owner deborah hunyady has brought several animals to the lah in the past and even had a niece who graduated from the cvm so when her local veterinarian said he had done all he could do on site and that nadar needed a hospital she knew exactly where to take him
but when she pulled up in early april and saw the outdoor check-in and the trailers from the texas a&m veterinary emergency team implemented by the cvm to protect employees and clients from covid-19 she was a little surprised another surprise awaited her when she got into the parking lot and was told that she couldnt accompany nadar inside like usual because of social distancing guidelines
they were very nice about it and i understood she said im just glad that they were open; if those were the conditions under which they could see nadar so be it
nadar came into the lah with abdominal pain at about 6:30 pm and was first seen by dr sarah thomas a resident in large animal internal medicine thomas hardy and the lah team decided that nadar needed surgery as quickly as possible
in surgery we found whats called a small intestinal volvulus which essentially means the small intestine is twisted on itself 360 degrees hardy said not only can the food not get through because its twisted but its also cutting off the blood supply to the intestine so if you leave it like that the intestine is going to die
in cases like these veterinarians often find extensive damage and a portion of the intestine usually has to be removed which can lead to a difficult recovery but not only were the lah surgeons able to untwist the intestine they were able to begin the surgery quick enough that the affected part of the intestine did not need to be removed
still hardy expected nadar to have a difficult recovery which is typical in this kind of surgery
when we had a conversation with the owner i was concerned that the horse was going to be pretty sick afterward she said even though we didnt think the intestine needed to be removed it was still really bruised and had a lot of change in color so i thought the horse would be a lot sicker than he was
the main concern after this kind of surgery is digestive motility or how quickly the movement through the digestive system returns to normal but nadar didnt have any problems with that and was back with his owner in only a week
hunyady said that even though she couldnt accompany him inside like normal she knew nadar was in good hands and appreciated the constant updates from the lah team
dr thomas talked to me twice a day she said she got to know nadar really well to the point that she could tell from his personality when he wasnt feeling well and when he was that she got to know nadar so well gave me comfort
nadar is already back home in conroe texas and hunyady said it was another great experience at the lah
every day after the surgery he was doing a little better and better she said i was thrilled when this happened even my local veterinarian said you were smart to take him to a&m there was no doubt in my mind that was the right choice
what she didnt know though was how much things were changing behind the scenes between changing operations to limit exposure inside the hospital and the absence of the fourth-year veterinary students on site the hospital is working with fewer staff than usual but the staff arent letting that impact their care
along with thomas and hardy the team included large animal surgery resident dr alyssa doering veterinary intern dr chelsea dunnehoo senior anesthesiologist dr keila ida anesthesia technician derek osborne surgery technician sarah adams and many more from the intensive care unit team
the whole team is so important because when were dealing with a 1 000-pound animal that has to undergo general anesthesia for surgery it isnt something that anyone can do by themselves hardy said everything went really smooth and it was a really good reflection of an amazing team that i get to work with every day
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the stevenson companion animal life-care center at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is a unique piece of the colleges outreach and service efforts
the center provides the physical emotional and medical care and companionship for pets whose owners are no longer able to care for them prior to entering a retirement home being hospitalized or predeceasing their pet
when the covid-19 pandemic struck many of the cvms programs and activities were temporarily stopped; however the stevenson center has carried on thanks to the dedicated staff and students who continue to dedicate their lives to caring for these animals
as part of their job at the stevenson center veterinary students live and work there day and night a benefit of having students live on-site is that they are able to provide 24-hour care and companionship for the animal residents
second-year veterinary student sierra key has worked for the center since 2015 her freshman year as an animal science major at texas a&m for two years she was a daytime worker but in 2017 she was asked to move in
i gradually got into the resident position and havent looked back key said ive learned so much from this job living with all of these different animals being able to take care of the geriatric animals and just seeing them all the way through you dont get that kind of experience in practice
two canine residents that came to the center from the same home chen and twinkie have especially taken to key and have become her study buddies keeping her company while she does her online veterinary school courses
chen and twinkie sleep in my room with me key said they got here when i moved in to become a resident and now theyre with me all of the time; theyre my babies
in the midst of covid-19 the students daily schedules and responsibilities have not changed they are responsible for the animals from 5 pm when the centers staff members leave for the night to 8 am the next day plus all day on weekends and holidays when she is not on shift key says she works on her classes treating it like a normal day
social distancing is a big rule here key said i think thats probably the hardest thing just because we all want to be together and love on all of the animals at the same time we each select a couple pets and take turns basically but it all works out
when covid-19 started to progress throughout the state and then to brazos county texas a&m university and the cvm took measures to protect faculty staff students and the community at large the stevenson center has taken protective measures as well to not only protect those working but also the animals that reside at the center
we have limited hours for the day staff because they had to make sure they are respecting social distancing and making sure nobody else comes in key said were not doing tours at this time and were not having anybody come in and do maintenance work were not allowed to have visitors or friends over right now which is totally understandable
ellie greenbaum the associate director of the stevenson center and dr henry l sonny presnal director of the stevenson center continue administration of the center from home while their full-time employees continue caring for the pets and the center during the week
during the pandemic the stevenson center has delayed all tours and has limited anyone from entering the center other than our employees greenbaum said
there are four devoted veterinary students who live at the center and are caring for the pets every evening and weekend as they always do she said all of our employees are exceptional and are committed to fulfilling our mission of providing the best in care to our resident pets since the nature of our business is essential the center is carrying on business as usual thanks to our one-of-a-kind staff
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
im one of those students who decided they were going to be a veterinarian when they were 5 years old monica pickett said
along with the love for animals that unites all veterinarians picketts calling is largely based on her desire to interact with clients and is as much about the people as the pets
people care so much about their pets and often when they come in theyre so anxious and it can be about the littlest thing pickett said i like talking to people and i like making them feel better
when she was a sophomore in college pickett decided to pursue small animal general practice after witnessing the love and care her familys veterinarian had showed picketts dog spud who had developed hemangiosarcoma a cancer of the blood vessel walls
i was at my parents house when he fainted because he had a splenic tumor that had ruptured pickett said we rushed him off to the emergency hospital and he went through everything he had an emergency splenectomy and a plasma transfusion but there was no saving him
my family and i were a crying mess and the veterinarian was so calm and straightforward with us she said she was very realistic and didnt give us any false hope i was in there when spud passed away that was when i was surei wanted to be a veterinarian
the following summer pickett was still mourning the loss of spud and felt the need to care for another dog she looked into fostering and took on the fixer-upper wolfie a german shepherd who had heartworms weighed less than half of her ideal weight and suffered from multiple physical and mental health issues
she was skin and bones pickett said she had horrible diarrhea because we were reintroducing her to food she had been abused and was terrified of people she had severe mange so she hardly had any hair
that dog was my life; i spent all of my time nursing her to good health she said i had her for three months and by the end of it she had put on weight and looked like a dog again i loved her and i got to see her become a happy well-adjusted dog it was the most rewarding experience
after wolfie was adopted by the perfect person for her pickett kept in touch and even met up with them a year later
when i walked up i didnt believe it was the same dog she said i squatted down and she was a little unsure then she freaked out and tackled me and she was kissing all over my face it was exciting that she remembered me
after graduation pickett plans to join hill country animal hospital in austin to work with her mentor of several years dr kohl kemnitz 14
pickett met kemnitz during her undergraduate education at the university of texas when she took wolfie to his practice where wolfie had been an established patient she mentioned to kemnitz her desire to attend veterinary school and he immediately offered her the opportunity to shadow him at the hospital even though he was only a new graduate himself
he took me on and i spent the entire summer with him pickett said he let me shadow him as much as i wanted the clinic was my favorite place to be; it was like paradise
since then kemnitz has supported pickett throughout her entire veterinary school journey
a lot of times in veterinary school you get imposter syndrome and you feel like i dont belong here im not smart enough all of my classmates are so smart pickett said its intimidating being around such high-caliber people all of the time dr kemnitz was always there to say ‘no youre a high-caliber student too youve got this
we talk usually every few weeks she said he checks in to see how im doing and when im stressed out he tells me its going to be ok and that we all get through it i just know that hes going to be a really good mentor when i graduate
as pickett begins her career in general practice her relationships with colleagues clients and pets will support and encourage her throughout her time as a veterinarian
i dont think i can explain how much i love general practice she said when someone brings their pet in as a puppy you do all their puppy vaccines build a relationship with them and see them for their annual appointments then if their dog becomes sick they trust you they depend on you and youre there for them thats my favorite part
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
from its first out-of-state deployment in december 2018which was also the teams first foray into shelter managementto its first back-to-back deployment last fall the texas a&m veterinary emergency team has faced a lot of new challenges over the last two years
the team is now adding to that list of firsts with a call-to-action by the texas division of emergency management (tdem) to serve in the texas panhandle
what makes this deployment unique
it represents the first time the vet will be assisting with a public health issue primarily affecting humans and it is also the teams first one-man deployment
vet director dr wesley bissett departed college station on may 4 bound for lubbock to serve as the operations section chief for the epidemiology unit working to trace how covid-19 is circulating in the region
in this role bissett is managing a team within the texas department of health & human services (dhhs) public health region 1 which serves a 41-county area in the panhandle and south plains
the opportunity bissett said really drives home the significance of the one health paradigman approach that emphasizes the collaboration of entities at all levels to achieve optimal health for humans animals and our environmentin managing what he sees as the one health effort of our time
the vet has worked really hard to develop expertise that is important to the state it is very much an honor that those efforts have been recognized and that were asked to participate into this response bissett said this is different than what weve typically done but most of our deployments have been different in some way it does make sense though as the team has both the incident management experience and the scientific background to appropriately guide response efforts
the vet was built for the state of texas and the citizens of the state of texas to do whatever job they need of us he said im excited about supporting the region in this way and about this new challenge as we expand the vets capabilities
bissett was selected to serve as the operations section chief based on his leadership experience and understanding of epidemiology bissett earned his phd in environmental epidemiology from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
as veterinarians we have training that can be of assistance in a human health incident whenever the human health authorities are feeling taxed he said we have skills that are valuable to the entire system because we can pick up some of the load that human health incident would normally carry so that they can more fully focus their expertise where its most needed
the largest and most sophisticated of its kind in the country the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) provides medical support to urban search-and-rescue teams and resident animals in response to natural and manmade disasters at the request of the texas a&m task force or county jurisdictions to support the vet click here
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the road to veterinary school is by nature dauntless and difficult
while many students are fortunate to gain entrance on their first attempt some students face additional obstacles they must overcome in order to pursue their dream of becoming a veterinarian
alicia robinson from wills point texas applied three times before being accepted to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
it was really hard robinson said there were a lot of times i thought about applying to nursing school because that seemed like the easier thing to do i told myself i was going to give myself four tries and if it didnt happen after the fourth time it was probably time to do something else
in the years between her undergraduate degree at a&m and acceptance into veterinary school robinson earned a masters degree in biomedical sciences at a&m she also used the time to focus on herself and her family which was important along her path to eventual admission
i had a lot of support from my husband and family they kept telling me not to give up but it was definitely hard; every rejection letter stung robinson said noting that her loved ones helped her overcome the disappointment
but i learned to lean on the support of others she said there are going to be times when you feel like you cant do it youre not smart enough but just lean on those who love you and support you no matter what and just keep going
since entering the cvm robinson has continued to demonstrate her tenacity serving two years as the cvms texas veterinary medical association (tvma) delegate liaising between the college and the association serving on the board of directors for conferences and being involved with legislative advocacy
despite the perseverance required for robinsons admission she strongly believes that her hard work paid off after all in may 2020 she will earn her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree and hopefully find a job working in rural mixed animal medicine
at the end of the day im getting to do what i want to do so yeah it was definitely worth it all those struggles she said i actually have my acceptance letter framed in my office so i can look at it every time i study
elizabeth martin from allen texas has also carried on through her fair share of setbacks
in the summer after her freshman year she was in a medically induced coma for five weeks because of a severe case of pneumonia she had to withdraw from classes the fall semester of her sophomore year to go through physical rehabilitation and then reapply to her undergraduate program at a&m
though her illness disrupted her plans martin believes her experiences have ultimately made her into a stronger person and have set her up to be a better veterinarian
it has given me the ability to empathize more with the patients and the owners in what they have experienced she said i have seen how a medical emergency has impacted my familys life as well as my own
at the time of martins induced coma doctors did not know whether she would even be able to walk again even though recovery has been extensive for martin and her family she has not let this impact her veterinary education or her future in veterinary medicine
i awoke with chronic nerve damage so i continue to wear an ankle brace on a daily basis this has made it a challenge to juggle chronic pain while being a veterinary student but has made me even more determined to be successful
martin refuses to let anything slow her down she served as president of the heifer international chapter at the cvm for two years raising $16 000 for the non-profit organization in january 2018 martin also served as an internal medicine club veterinary lab coordinator last year
after veterinary school martin plans to pursue her interest in small animal cardiology and hopes to end up at a specialty clinic in texas specializing in cardiology requires martin to commit to a one-year internship and three-year residency in the field an experience she says she looks forward to completing
she is also passionate about health and wellness martin teaches spin classes at a&ms recreation center she asserts that although it may seem difficult for students to fit fitness into their schedules it is beneficial in the long-run boosting focus energy and mood
i think it is important to continue to take care of yourself while in veterinary school she said a lot of times people think there is not enough time but do not realize how beneficial health and fitness are to daily life
she thinks that her past illness has changed her mindset on how she spends her time and where she places value in her life as well as motivated her to chase her ambitions in pursuing a cardiology specialty with more vigor than ever
i know after i woke up i realized that time is precious martin said i do not ever know how long i have; therefore i try to make the most of every situation and plan to live like this the rest of my life
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
disasters that endanger animals come in many guises
some come in the form of natural disasters like tropical storm imelda which severely flooded 13 texas counties in september 2019 in rural chambers county alone approximately 100 cattle horses dogs and cats were rescued and/or treated for floodwater-related injuries an additional 4 000 head of livestock were supported on site
other disasters come in the form of neglect
just prior to tropical storm imelda 270 dogs and one cat were recovered from an inhumane situation in south texas cameron county when authorities responded to complaints of loud barking these animals which were locked in a warehouse needed to be evaluated and then receive proper attention before being offered for adoption
fortunately texas a&ms veterinary emergency team (vet) provides critical support during these times of extreme need across the state and nation
also fortunately for a dozen fourth-year veterinary students on the cvms veterinary emergency management rotation when the team deploys the students deploy too giving them an educational opportunity like no other
these students typically spend the veterinary emergency management rotation taught by vet faculty members learning about the differences between general practice and emergency situations and then assisting communities with developing a disaster plan if a crisis happens during their rotation these students deploy to the emergency area and work with the vet to provide appropriate care
students who deploy get to see a different side of veterinary medicine
deployment medicine is different because youre not in the teaching hospitals where resources are abundant so you dont have all of the capabilities you have there said zachary grimsley who deployed to cameron county but it also teaches you to be able to assess animals quickly and efficiently and to know that you dont always have to have an x-ray machine and ultrasound right there at all times
during a major crisis these students are assigned critical jobs that support the mission
the team has an integrated organizational structure with the available resources equipment and facilities to effectively respond to any disaster-related medical emergency said lillian maldonado santiago a fourth-year student who deployed to chambers county we got experience with all of these things when we were divided into smaller groups (small vs large animal-oriented) each with group leaders (veterinarians) to facilitate accountability and communication
students learn that each disaster requires a specific response based on the type of emergency
in the case of imelda many of the needs were based on dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding students were able to diagnose and treat submersion injuries also known as river rot which tend to adversely affect the skin and can lead to swelling and additional infection
students saw this when the team had to evaluate a group of ponies that were in floodwater for an unspecified amount of time the large animal veterinarian did a visual exam to determine whether an animal needed immediate care once they were cleared students decontaminated each pony and moved them to a clean sheltered area with access to food and water
seeing this made me realize that there is no room to second guess yourself santiago said every decision needs to be made with confidence as others are counting on these decisions in order to act accordingly
the situation in cameron county was completely different
while this disaster was unlike the usual deployment conditions the vet faces it was a disaster in its own right said sarah brien one of the cvm students who deployed when the county found them the animals had been neglected and the community was overwhelmed by the volume of animals in need
students problem-solving skills clinical abilities and resiliency were tested during this situation
we arrived at the cameron county animal shelter with a rough plan of the triage system we wanted to execute brien said however the realities of the housing and behavior of the animals had to be accounted for in our updated plan
the revised plan required creating a better system to keep track of the overwhelming number of animals and maintain complete records in addition vet responders had to use innovative methods to deal with animal control issues
we had to handle the animals in a way that minimized their stress which was challenging because they were not leash-trained; we also had to be aware of heat exhaustion issues brien said we would quickly troubleshoot to find a better way of handling the animals that were resistant to leashes and moved patients into air-conditioned rooms or trucks for physical exams and medical care to decrease the risk of overheating for patients and vet members
ultimately the cvm students on the veterinary emergency management rotation benefited from the vets deployments as much as the animals that were served
in the cameron county deployment each student performed full physical exams on more than 50 patients administered vaccines and drew blood for heartworm tests they worked with both friendly and unruly animals that had suffered injuries which required them to face the reality of abuse through the physical deterioration of a few animals
the students believe that these types of deployments give them an understanding of the pressures of an emergency situation and how they could be called upon to respond when they have their own practice
having emergency planning and response as a part of my veterinary education will make me a better veterinarian in the future grimsley said i will be better equipped to serve my community during a time of emergency should it arise the memories and the skills i learned during my deployment will stick with me for the rest of my career along with the feeling of being able to serve a greater cause
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) is called into action its normally the animals theyre concerned about but covid-19 has presented a different challengehow to continue operations when its people who are at risk
usually if we talk about a disaster like a fire or a hurricane we talk about continuing operations in the face of displaced or injured animals said vet member dr frank cerfogli usually our emergency is a population of found pets whose residence or ownership are a mystery in that we dont know who the owners are now our pets ownership is no mystery; the compounding factor is the social distancing
while team members are adapting to a more human-centered approach cerfogli and dr norberto espitiawho is the vets operations planning and safety officerare also using the experience to both serve the veterinary profession and educate the fourth-year veterinary students (4vms) participating in the vets community connections clinical rotation
where the vet typically works with counties and local officials on disaster planning the team is currently utilizing distance education technology and video conferencing to meet with private practices around texas so students can learn how to develop plans for safely remaining open during a pandemic situation
the 4vms assist by creating plans for their future practices some are hypothetical but since the majority of 4vms already have jobs lined up many of them are specific to their future practices
theyre researching their countys recommendations for essential places of business for covid-19 and for staying open as well as researching entities such as the chamber of commerce for their city cerfogli said were hopefully giving them all of the knowledge for covid-19 response before they actually step into the practice in the next few weeks or months
emily adamson one of the 4vms who recently completed the rotation said she had been looking forward to the vets clinical rotation and was initially worried that the distance education aspect resulting from classes moving online would lessen the impact
in a way though it actually strengthened the concepts we learned regarding emergency preparedness and response she said its added a layer of urgency and relevance to the thought that we as veterinarians need to have a plan with our future places of employment to ensure that even in times of disaster or hardship we can still provide high-quality care to our patients
one of the big benefits of this rotation is that for the most part they arent working with hypotheticals the pandemic will be ongoing when these students join the workforce in a few short weeks and now they feel better equipped to handle it
im more familiar with my countys structure and plan for situations like this adamson said understanding how i can better utilize resources available to businesses during times of hardship makes me feel more confident that i can enter the veterinary workforce and still provide quality veterinary care even during this pandemic
at the end of each week students in the community connections rotation hold video conferences with practitioners around the state to discuss how theyre adapting their processes and how they could implement the plans that the students have come up with
prior to meeting with the practitioners the students are given vital information about the local area including the primary hazards and risk assessment population demographics animal census cultural diversity and county topography espitia said the students are also required to research the county governments organizational structure and to be able to describe the lines of communication within the jurisdiction that are to be adopted in the event of a local disaster
right now the veterinary playbook for covid-19 response is fairly straightforward practices are moving to curbside drop-off and pick-up and many are moving to only seeing urgent and emergent cases
but this means that cases such as spays and neuters or routine procedures such as nail trims which are not essential procedures and would require the use of personal protective equipment that everyone is currently trying to conservecannot be seen during the pandemic
this creates a challenge for veterinarians and the 4vms alikehow do they prioritize those kinds of cases or procedures once practices start to normalize operations
cerfogli said that nationally the number of those types of procedures could be in the millions each week and now most veterinarians are performing close to zero so practices and animal shelters have to consider how theyre going to scale back up those operations
ultimately just as the veterinary profession is being forced to adapt and overcome the vet facultyand all faculty at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)are working to make the 4vm coursework as relevant and applicable as possible even when they can only teach from behind a computer screen
the clinicians on all of my online rotations as well as the cvm administration team have done a really great job working to make our experience just as valuable in the online format as it would be in-person in the clinic adamson said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
zachary and victoria grimsley had only been engaged for a few months when they began applying to veterinary schools
they met as animal science majors at texas tech universitywhere she had won a national championship in wool judging and he participated on the meat judging teamand they knew that whatever veterinary school they ultimately chose they would go through that experience as they had their undergraduate educationtogether
it was a stressful couple of months knowing that we were at somebodys mercy essentially for where we were going to be for the next four years of our lives victoria said i remember the day we got the news about texas a&mi got in immediately and zach was no 2 on the waiting list
that was a rough day because i was excited that i got in and i really wanted to go to a&m i had known as a very young child that i wanted to be an aggie veterinarian; it was my life goal the pflugerville native said but then zach didnt get in to a&m right away so it was a very melancholy day
the pair was fairly confident zach would ultimately be accepted and carried on in planning for their july wedding as the deadline to claim her position drew nearer victoria had to make a decision on whether to accept texas a&ms offer it was not lost upon her that she could reject the offer only for zach to get the opened spot
fortunately a week or two before she had to make that decision zach received a phone call
we were sitting in the car he answers and is very stoic saying all of the things you would say if youre getting into veterinary school at a&m but he wouldnt tell me while he was on the phone victoria said he finally gets off the phone and hes like ‘i got in and i start bawling in the passenger seat i cried happy tears for i dont know quite a while because i was so excited that we were both going to get to go to a&m together
i didnt show my emotions as much as she thought that i would but i was really excited the abernathy texas native said they had told me that i was more than likely going to get in so i kind of already accepted that it was probably going to happen but it definitely was a relief to know that i was finally accepted
on july 22 exactly one month before their first day of veterinary school zach and victoria were married in the month that followed they went on a honeymoon moved across the state from lubbock and settled in to life in college station
while many of their peers were adjusting to the traditional challenges of veterinary school zach and victoria were also adjusting to married life as newlyweds who were living together for the first time in many ways those challenges exacerbated each other as they acclimated to each others educational idiosyncrasies
i will be the first to admit that zach is way smarter than i am he inherently gets things a lot faster he can read something one time and he will remember forever or somebody can explain it to him one time and hes got it victoria said i need to sit down process the information and write it out; it takes me probably twice maybe three times as long to really understand the information
nothing compares to vet school classes just the sheer speed and volume and so that was a big struggle we had to work through our first year really learning our different learning styles she said
another of the tough parts of being in vet school at the same time is how we prioritized studying zach said my mentality is i do my schoolwork first and then do everything else household-wise whereas victoria is completely the opposite; she cannot focus if the house is a mess
the hours also made it tough because we were both in school from early until late and on weekends we had to study for monday tests he said nobody was like ‘i can go to the grocery store because i have time we both felt like we needed to be studying and so that was a struggle
that first year of veterinary school for us was probably the roughest as far as how quickly everything all came together but we made it and i think its only made our marriage stronger; we always joke if we can get through vet school together we can get through anything together victoria said
on the other hand going through the experience together offered benefits that many of their married peers did not have including having someone to bounce ideas off of and as competitive individuals having built-in motivation
i feel like there were parts we thought were going to break us individually but its been really nice to have somebody who knew exactly what i was going through on a day-to-day basis who really understood that i had to study so much victoria said no one felt neglected or made the other feel guilty when we needed to study instead of going out to see a movie
as fourth-year veterinary students they have experienced the strange phenomenon of having completely different schedules during their clinical rotations; while some may wonder if that has presented a challenge for a pair who have been inseparable with nearly the exact same schedules for the past seven years they actually find it refreshing
it got to the point where we almost didnt know what to talk about anymore because we had done the same thing together all day long victoria said being on different rotations we get to come home in the evenings and really talk about something that excites us that the other person didnt experience; getting to share that has been really fun for us
we play it like almost a game she said we present a signalment and tell the other our clinical findings and the other person has to guess what we did and then we talk about the case together
this is something they will continue to do for a while after graduating; the two accepted jobs as small animal veterinarians in spring in north houston but at different clinics
coming out of vet school we knew we would probably have to go to two different practices just so that we can get different experiences under different doctors but the hope one day is to come together and practice in the same clinic that we own zach said then we can take all of those experiences and put them together to have the best medicine that we can practice together
ideally the clinic they own together will allow victoria to continue to practice small animal medicine mainly focusing on dogs and cats and zach to focus on mixed animal medicine and play a larger role in the business aspects
for now because everything to this point has managed to work itself out as long as theyre able to pursue their dream together side-by-side as a married couple they will consider themselves fortunate
its been really rewarding for both of us to be in veterinary school together a lot of people jokewe were referred to as the ‘married couple for a really long time victoria said but ultimately that is who we are in vet school; we are the couple that came in together and have thrived together
were both really thankful that we got in together; weve been told countless timesi really have no idea how many times weve been told thishow we are very lucky to have gotten in at the same time to be in the same class and able to experience all of this together
continuing into our future well still be doing something similar together zach said our dream is to have a family-owned business that we can raise kids inrunning around the clinic after school making it a family-centered experience is something i think will be really good for us once we get out of vet school and start building our family
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
for duc nguyen research is one of the most fascinating aspects of veterinary medicine
while he initially intended to be a child behavioral psychologist when he began studying psychology at the university of houston in the final year of his undergraduate degree nguyen suddenly realized that his true passion was for animals and veterinary medicine
i always had an interest and love for animals but i had this strange fear that if i made a career out of it my love for animals would go away nguyen said my wife who was my girlfriend at the time said i was being irrational and convinced me to go for it women are always right so im glad i listened to her!
nguyen never really considered other veterinary schools outside of texas a&m he wanted to stay close to his mother in houston where he lived for the majority of his life after emigrating from the small province of tay-ninh vietnam
my mom is a single parent and isnt fluent in english so texas a&m allows me to be closer to her if she ever needs my help he said
once nguyen decided he wanted to become an aggie veterinarian he began looking for ways to make his application stand out he soon became involved in research work in an ophthalmology lab at the university of texas health science center
his lab studied zebrafish and mouse genetics to gain insight on a genetic mutation that causes retinitis pigmentosa a disease in humans that causes death of the photoreceptor cells in the eye which translate light into electrical signals that the brain can understand
while mammals only have photoreceptor cells zebrafish also have rod progenitor cells which have the ability to repair retinal damage
mammalian retinas have no mechanism to reverse photoreceptor cell death but by examining the incredibly advantageous regenerative properties that zebrafish rod progenitor cells have the study could lead to finding therapeutic treatments for one of the leading causes of blindness nguyen said
from this experience nguyen discovered his love for research and laboratory animal medicine
i had an amazing principal investigator who always encouraged me to attend journal clubs and research seminars which really cultivated my interest in biomedical research he said i also got to work extensively with the animals and really gained an appreciation for what they give to science i definitely lucked into the field
once he began his veterinary classes nguyen continued to look for opportunities to get involved in research since then he has learned to appreciate the role that lab animal veterinarians play in supporting and protecting animals
in the summer of 2017 he was accepted to the cvms veterinary medical scientist research training program to study cellular response at the site of injury of staphylococcus aureus infected femurs
staphylococcus aureus or staph as it is often known is a common germ that can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections if it makes its way to the wrong place better understanding the cellular response to this infection will help equip healthcare professionals with more effective treatment methods
i gained so many invaluable experiences from the research training program nguyen said i learned a ton and had first-hand experience writing a research proposal abstract and manuscript; producing a poster; and getting to present that poster at a research seminar
i also traveled to the national institutes of health in washington dc to present my poster with my friends which was really fun
after graduation nguyen hopes to return to houston to work as a clinical lab animal veterinarian in academia and collaborate on many research projects
i enjoy having the ability to be involved and up-to-date with the latest biomedical research as well as having access to a very diverse patient population he said i like all fields of research but i have a special interest in cancer research
even from my limited experience in research ive witnessed some incredible breakthroughs in cancer research which is really exciting he said however there are still so many more questions we can answer i cant say i will be the person to cure cancer but as a lab animal veterinarian my hope is that i can serve as a conduit for the field of cancer research
in all areas of research lab animal veterinarians can have a big impact on the health and safety of animals involved and on the research itself by responsibly caring for lab animals nguyens contributions to todays research will support the future of both animal and human medicine
if we want to continue developing drugs medical devices and diagnostic tools that help both humans and animals we have to all work together to raise awareness of the vital role animals play in biomedical research nguyen said by doing so we can continue to save lives
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the path to becoming a veterinarian is by nature very hands-on students first see and practice procedures on synthetic models learning by experience and honing their skills safely before graduating to care for real animals
with the dawn of covid-19 teaching these essential skills has become more difficult the transition to virtual learning distances students and instructors a dynamic that can be difficult even in less experiential disciplines
as the instructor of the principles of surgery course for second-year veterinary students dr kelley thieman an associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) not only teaches the details of surgery through lectures but also oversees the laboratory-based component
usually students will come to lab and in their groups prepare their ‘patient a synthetic model with replaceable fake organs thieman said explaining how the laboratory component of the course operates under normal circumstances they gown they glove they drape in their patient and then they do the procedure the instructors circulate and discuss what theyre doing give them pointers answer questions and discuss certain decisions
now with courses moving online cvm students make video-conference appointments with their professor and perform surgery in their homes on segments of the synthetic model shared by their group
each of the students sets up their own little operating room in their house thieman said its so funny to get to see the students houses; their dogs and their cats are so interested in what theyre doing we have cats that get into the surgical field and try to help out
though both instructors and students in this course have demonstrated remarkable flexibility in adapting to new circumstances thieman has found it difficult to translate the finer details of surgery to a digital setting
i think the biggest challenge is seeing if their stitches are too tight or too loose; it is really difficult because i cant touch them thieman said surgery is such a tactile thingteaching students and then being unable to check their sutures their stitches is difficult
thieman is overcoming this challenge by directing the students on how to check their own stitches requesting that students adjust their camera to a more advantageous position and that they measure the spacing between stitches using a ruler
lauren minner a second-year veterinary student in thiemans class said that social distancing measures make such interactive teaching strategies difficult as students are not only separated from their professors but also from other members of their lab groups this is especially challenging because groups that once shared a synthetic patient have to adapt to learning from the divided bits and pieces
during our labs some of us have had to improvise what our organs are minner said some classmates have used things like dog toys or felt bags that they have laying around and so we are having to improvise a little bit as far as our materials go but i think that it makes it a little bit more fun youre having to imagine things but at the same time youre performing the same surgeries
though principles of surgery students have had to exercise creativity in completing their coursework online or at home minner is still satisfied with the high quality of education provided to her by the cvm through this crisis
it honestly has been a lot closer to what we normally had than i thought wouldve been possible minner said it makes us a little bit more accountable for our own learning but at the same time its a little bit more gratifying because we are doing all of the work
minner believes that the process of collaborating with her professors to complete coursework digitally has produced the unexpected benefit of increased understanding between professors and students
more than anything its improving our relationships with our professors because we all are having to work together and we all are giving each other feedback about how things are going minner said its definitely opened up communication between ourselves and our professors a lot more once all of this is over i think that all of us are going to have a better working relationship with one another
thieman also thinks this experience can bring new insight to the veterinary field one unexpected benefit offered is the possibility to improve the way veterinary medicine is taught and expand accessibility through remote learning
i still think that in-person lab is better but there are times when that cannot happen thieman said if we have a student who is sick or has to be gone for other reasons but they still want to continue their education this could be really helpful for those students in the future
more personally thieman has found this experience to be an exercise in flexibility
ive learned to adapt quickly thieman said i was a little skeptical when this all started that it would be a success but ive learned that its totally doable; the students are getting a lot out of it and we can do more by video than i thought we could
minner agrees citing the tenacity and resilience of professors and students alike in rising to and overcoming the challenges covid-19 presents
its definitely taught us that when push comes to shove we are all very driven and stubborn minner said if we need to change what we thought was possible and work a little bit harder than we initially would have we can we have learned that we all are capable of a lot more than what we give ourselves credit for
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while many doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) students were not aggies before they were admitted to veterinary school they fully embrace the aggie core values as they step into the veterinary & biomedical education complex (vbec) to begin the next step in their educational journeys
a select few go on to demonstrate their commitment to selfless service by stepping up as leaders using their time as students to improve their school and the veterinary community as a whole
anna marie pratas a lubbock native who earned her bachelors degree at the university of texas at austin is one of those students
emerging as a leader who was willing to go above and beyond for the causes she cares about pratas became president of the texas a&m chapter of the student american veterinary medical association (savma)
i think that students have a lot of passion to give pratas said savma was a great way to direct that passion into something that could make a difference
during her time as president pratas worked with her peers to better her school and community this involved organizing town halls with cvm associate dean for professional programs dr karen cornell coordinating a presidents council to bring together all cvm student organization leaders in a forum and helping victims of domestic violence and their pets she also represented texas a&m on a local and national level through savma
as a leader pratas notes that she must often find a way to take chaos and organize it into something functional those kinds of skills will carry into her career in emergency medicine a specialty that requires the veterinarian to remain calm and level-headed in chaotic environments
in emergency medicine youre not just necessarily narrowed down to a certain specialty pratas said you get to do everything: cardiology one minute and then gastrointestinal medicine the next minute and neurology the next emergency medicine is exactly that but oftentimes in life or death situations
emergency medicine she says is a good fit because she is drawn to environments in which she must be highly adaptable a trait that also can be beneficial in leadership
i love not knowing whats coming in the door next she said i feel that in stressful situations im the one to take a breath and see the big picture thats where i thrive
emergency medicine also employs the strong communication skills pratas has developed through her time serving in leadership positions
as an emergency veterinarian the client communication aspect is really unique because youre interacting with someone youve never met before pratas said it is potentially one of the most stressful days the owner has ever had and youre having to gain their trust in a very short period of time its really challenging but it also opens a lot of doors for really good client relationships
though graduation will change the role she serves within the community pratas believes that her tendency to step out from the crowd will remain
she puts it best when she explains that veterinarians by nature are figures of authority
i feel like as a veterinarian whatever environment im in i will be a leader in that environment she said
after graduation pratas hopes to pursue an internship with a private practice working in emergency medicine private practice programs often receive a larger caseload than academic institutions and true to her nature pratas wants to see it all
even outside of veterinary medicine pratas believes that the lessons she has learned as a leader will enhance her life and interactions with others
on a day-to-day basis anyone could take that leadership role of pumping other people up encouraging others and being there for them whenever they need you i hope thats something ill be able to embrace once im out in the world doing my thing
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
like many others in polk county texas affected by the april 23 tornado karen pruitt texas a&m class of 87 not only had damage to her property but injuries to her animals as well
so when she saw the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) arrive it was an uplifting moment in an otherwise trying time
animals are first in our book; they are part of the family pruitt said my friends at the association of former students heard the vet was coming through social media and called me immediately they told me ‘the aggie vets are coming and well make sure they know where you are my 83-year-old british mother was just like ‘oh the aggies are coming! it just made her day then to see the truck drive up she was like ‘its just beautiful
pruitt who is involved with a number of programs on the texas a&m campus in college station said seeing the vet in action is one of her proudest moments as an aggie
not only is it that you know youve got the best but it just warms your heart; it makes me more proud than ive ever been she said these veterinarians who have come here are just legendary; i know who they are they dont know me and theyre just so humble which is typical aggie style its so nice knowing that you can rely on your aggies is something every aggie should do because theyre everywhere
pruitt wasnt the only person who sought the vets help over the last four days the vet treated almost 90 animals including pruitts donkeys in polk county before returning to college station on tuesday (april 28)
dr wesley bissett vet director said that even though the direct mission of the team is helping animals this deployment was another example of how helping those animals gives their owners something positive during a time that can be very emotional
the texas a&m vet has as its foundation a history of standing up when things are difficult bissett said as aggies that is our heritage one that all of our team members embrace
while every vet deployment presents unique challenges the polk county deployment was the first during a pandemic the team had to ensure that for the protection of themselves and clients members followed centers for disease control and prevention guidelines on social distancing and personal protective equipment
the tornado that struck polk county which was estimated by the national weather service to be an ef-3 cut a fairly narrow path but did so over several miles creating a sizeable area of damaged structures that made ascertaining the extent of the impact on the animal population difficult
the team saw dogs cats horses donkeys cows pigs and even a raccoon during the deployment several of which were trapped under debris or were hiding in debris for extended amounts of time
the reality is that our team in our own small way is focused on helping people understand that everything will be ok through our providing care for disaster victims animals bissett said in my mind that is so incredibly important people need to know that we will indeed make it through this whether it is the polk county tornado or covid-19 we will persevere
learn more about this deployment: texas a&m vet deploys to support tornado recovery
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
kale johnson and elizabeth lake come from opposite ends of the spectrum
johnson who hails from a rural community with a population of less than 2 200 in the texas panhandle grew up around a variety of livestock in comparison lake who was raised in the heart of dallas primarily spent her early years around dogs and horses
however both fourth-year students are now committed to joining the ranks of rural veterinarians
this is important because the us department of agriculture reports that 500 us counties many rural were underserved by veterinarians in 2019 forty-four states reported shortages which is the largest number since tracking began
lake initially wasnt interested in veterinary medicine; instead she considered law or policy
despite always loving animals and people always asking me if i wanted to be a veterinarian i just didnt see myself doing that she said but then in college i actually took an epidemiology class and a veterinarian came and talked about public health and the one health idea in general that lecture got me thinking ‘ok theres so much more you can do with a veterinary degree
after earning an undergraduate degree in human biology with a minor in political science and a masters degree in environmental science from stanford university lake decided to apply to veterinary school
texas a&m was always a top choice just because im a proud texan she said ive always been a huge aggie fan my whole life and a&ms really strong in the areas that im interested in: large animal especially food animal medicine and one health
she hasnt been disappointed in her decision lake points to her summer research fellowship with the cvms dr morgan scott and dr keri norman during which she explored how antimicrobials are being used in production settings to affect resistance patterns and bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter
she also participated in a rural internship program through the cvm and west texas a&ms veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program during which she explored the clinical challenges of a rural mixed animal practice and worked with dairy veterinarians
i was really impressed by the quality of medicine that was practiced out there lake said a lot of times we think when youre dealing with limited budgets limited resources and limited abilities to refer youre really handcuffed medically to some extent thats true but i still didnt feel at all that patients were getting a lower quality of care i was by any standards highly impressed with how dedicated those veterinarians are to continuing their education and to offering outstanding services to their communities
lake will start her veterinary career at a mixed animal practice in central texas that serves a large town and surrounding rural communities
im looking forward to the case variety of a true mixed animal practice and to building relationships with my hospital team and the communities that are trusting us with the care of their animals she said
she one day hopes to use her breadth of knowledge in veterinary medicine environmental science and human biology to get involved in policy decisions
theres an increasing focus on how were managing herds thats not necessarily a veterinary-exclusive thing; thats almost more of an animal science- or management-type deal but there are still contributions that veterinarians can make to those types of discussions obviously she said (and) anytime youre treating a food animal youve got human health in the back of your mind too
johnsons entire life has involved agriculture and livestock his mothers family raised stocker cattle while his fathers family focused on show cattle and ran a cow-calf operation johnsons parents both competed in rodeo and worked for the cargill plant in saginaw
growing up in the small rural community of idalou johnsons interest in becoming a rural veterinarian was fostered through raising show animals and his interactions with his agriculture teachers especially wayne fud robertson and the late danny gunn whom he said were tremendous influences on his drive to be a leader and give back to the ffa
growing up in these smaller communities very often the veterinarian was the most academically educated person in the community and that was something i admired he said people often came to them for things way outside the role of veterinary medicine i want to be able to do that for other people as well
now that hes in veterinary school johnson has tried to make the most of his cvm experience
showing up to class every day and doing the extra things were important to me he said i didnt want to waste anything i hate getting to the end of something and looking back and going well i couldve done a little bit more of this or that
his time in the cvm also has been influenced by his wife elizabeth ford-johnson who graduated from the cvm in 2015 the couple met when johnson an undergraduate was assisting the cvms dr juan romano with a research project on boer goats while his soon-to-be-wife then a fourth-year student was on a field service rotation
thats not where i thought id meet my wife in a stinky goat pen he said with a smile
over the years elizabeth has offered valuable advice to johnson on how to navigate veterinary school
shes my saving grace because from day one i had somebody who had just been through it he said especially that first year its really hard adjusting to that kind of study mentality she warned me about classes like anatomy physiology and immunology which are the ones that trip up a lot of students
after johnsons graduation the couple will move to louisburg kansas where they have both been offered jobs at a rural practice
the thing that makes veterinary medicine so fun for me is the diversity i very much want to dabble in a little bit of everything he said i like to have the ability to go out and palpate 200 cows in the morning come back to a dog c-section at the middle of the day and then go out and do some coggins tests on some horses
johnson also looks forward to becoming an integral part of a rural community
you know everybody by name; everyone waves at you going by he said these people need good veterinarians they need someone they can depend upon in times of financial need since these cattle are their livelihood and then they need care for their pets as well which are emotional animals for them i feel a great need to serve in those areas
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when texas a&m university made the decision to move all classes online for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester because of the covid-19 pandemic professors at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) were faced with the unique challenge of determining how to provide fourth-year veterinary students (4vms) with online clinical rotations
in their fourth year at the cvm veterinary students normally spend their time at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) or another clinical location interacting directly with patients and clients and rotating between services or areas of veterinary specialty every two weeks
while the challenge of replicating this experience online was unexpected and unprecedented cvm faculty members proved that with creativity and optimism all things are possible
my initial reaction was ‘we can do this said dr johanna heseltine a clinical assistant professor at the cvm
in the small animal hospitals (sah) internal medicine service heseltine normally instructs 4vms by showing them how to treat actual patients that come into the service for a variety of needs
now that rotations are online shes spending more of her time at home teaching with zoom and other online resources while other clinicians manage the reduced caseload at the sah
the majority of my day is spent teaching the students she said its been time-consuming but its also been very exciting to be able to dedicate that much time just to the students without worrying about running the clinic
among the teaching methods heseltine uses to teach 4vms about internal medicine from home is using the unpredictability that comes with actual patients at the sah
theyve been looking at one of the cases that is in the hospital real-time and theyre writing an assessment or a plan for that patient using the information that they can access at home she said those are the cases theyd be actually taking if they were on rotation i didnt choose them; theyre whatever happens to come through the door
she is also giving a second assignment each day based on hand-selected past cases that she has found particularly interesting or unique
my impression is that the students have found those cases very challenging but because they have time to work on them theyre getting a lot out of it because theyve got enough time to really look up the abnormalities and think about what might be causing them heseltine said i think theyve really enjoyed the challenges and i get the sense that they feel like theyre learning a lot
in one of these cases students were tasked with developing a treatment plan for a cat that developed a blockage a condition they are likely to see in their practices after graduation
that case was definitely challenging but it was a nice confidence-builder said 4vm amanda tabone it was nice that dr heseltine was able to hand-pick topics that she knew were important for first-year-out general practitioners
tabone said that while her online internal medicine rotation was time-consuming it was a great way to conclude her education at the cvm
there was a lot of repetition of really important fundamental concepts and a lot of case-based learning which is awesome tabone said it really hammered home some of those concepts that we need to know right before we go out into the real world
having also completed an in-person internal medicine rotation at the sah last fall tabone said the experiences were different but equally beneficial
im glad to have had both because i really love the patient-care aspect the connection with clients and getting to work one-on-one with faculty she said but i think the second time around it was so topic- and discussion-based that i got a lot out of it; it was a totally different dynamic than the first time i got different benefits out of each rotation both equally important
another important aspect of clinical rotations and teaching in general is the connection between teacher and students that promotes discussion and honest conversation
i was concerned that i wouldnt get to know the students the way i usually do heseltine said i thought it might be very impersonal and that theyd just be names but not people but it actually hasnt been like that because the interactions real-time and theyve had their cameras on so i can see who they are its actually been much better than i saw it being
likewise tabone feels that the online rotations have held a hidden benefit in the increased time with faculty members who are normally much busier at the vmth
i felt like we got to know dr heseltine more on a personal level and i think vice versa for us with her tabone said we got to spend a lot of face time with the senior clinician and that was definitely an unexpected aspect that i enjoyed
despite the challenges it has created the covid-19 pandemic has shown 4vms just how dedicated their professors are to their success sending them out into the field with the confidence that they will always have the support of the cvm and aggie family
i am very appreciative and im sure my classmates are very appreciative of the amount of time faculty are putting in to make sure that we are getting what we need from our education to feel comfortable going out into our practices tabone said i dont think we can say thank you enough for all of their dedication because i know theyre taking a lot of time to make sure we feel comfortable and that they feel good about our level of education as were about to graduate
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
veterinary medicine runs in the tabone family
growing up in colleyville amanda tabone spent much of her free time at the veterinary hospital where both her father veterinarian george tabone 93 and mother veterinary nurse katy tabone were employed
i spent a good portion of my summers at the hospital even starting in late elementary school and early middle school watching my dad and going into rooms with clients amanda tabone said once i got older i got to start watching surgeries which was really neat
this exposure to veterinary medicine at a young age along with a household full of pets was instrumental in amandas decision to become a veterinarian herself
ill never forget the day she called us at the hospital and said ‘thats it ive made up my mind i want to be a veterinarian george said i always felt that she could do whatever she wanted to do if she put her mind to it but her passion and her natural affinity toward animals was obvious i told her mother ‘shes going to be good honestly shell be better than i am
when amanda decided to study veterinary medicine at texas a&m where her father earned his dvm and her mother worked at the small animal hospital (sah) for several years her parents were overjoyed
there was never a backup plan for me amanda said it was either apply until i get into a&m or keep applying i was really lucky that it happened on the first try because there was never a plan of going elsewhere
though her father encouraged her to apply to multiple veterinary schools he was secretly thrilled that she was determined to study at the cvm which was also where he had met and married katy
my veterinary school experience 26 years ago was absolutely the most wonderful four years of my life george said i developed so many special relationships with clinicians professors and friends to whom i still talk today with the great traditions here i dont think shell ever forget her days at a&m
during amandas years as a veterinary student being able to turn to her father for advice and encouragement helped her stay motivated and focused on her goal of becoming a small animal general practitioner like he is
its been a really cool experience throughout veterinary school to call him about different topics and have him be able to relate amanda said its been even more rewarding in my fourth year when he and i have been able to chat about the patients and cases i got to work on that day what i saw or what surgery i helped with
during her fourth-year clinical rotations amanda discovered her passion for interacting with pets owners in addition to the pets two cases stand out to her as particularly impactfula beagle named birdie from her cardiology rotation and a bloodhound named annie from orthopedics
annie had a complicated fracture we got to repair amanda said annies mom was willing to do anything for her; annie is a huge part of her life she was a rescue so it was a really rewarding case the bond she has with her mom was something really special to witness and i was lucky be a part of annies team under dr (laura) peycke
one of my favorite parts of fourth year is getting to speak with clients and letting them know im taking care of their pets to the best of my ability and treating them with love like how i would want my own pets treated amanda said i think that goes a long way especially for the people who are stressed during their pets visit thats why when annie comes in for her rehabilitation appointments i try to stop in and say hello to her mom because i really do appreciate and enjoy that aspect of our profession
amanda plans to take this mindset with her into general practice where she looks forward to establishing trusting relationships with all of the animals and people who come through her door
i think the most exciting thing will be to build relationships with clients that i can maintain to be able to see the same clients as their pets grow and do what i can to keep their family members around as long as possible she said im really excited about that
we all love animals but for me the driving factor (for becoming a veterinarian) was the connection we have with our pets she said thats why i enjoy the client interaction part of it the most because i want to do whatever i can to make their human-animal bond the best that it can be thats what drives me
though amanda will return to the dallas area after graduation to be near her family she plans to find a new clinic to join rather than working with her parents
ive gotten to watch my dad all of these years and ill continue to lean on him for mentorship but he thinks i should work at another clinic where i can learn from others learn how to do things differently and find my own preferences and techniques as opposed to just his amanda said
thanks to their shared passions for animals and veterinary medicine the tabone family has a strong and unique bond that will hold them together even if they are separated by physical distance
my dad and i have always been close because of sports and this whole aspect of our shared profession has brought in a new dynamic to our relationship amanda said my mom supported him through veterinary school and shes been a huge rock for me during veterinary school as well we have a really neat family dynamic
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
seventeen members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) deployed to onalaska texas on saturday morning to serve citizens affected by the tornado that struck east texas on wednesday
in polk county vet members will work with community sheltering operations to provide veterinary medical care to animals injured in the storm which killed three people and left up to 30 injured
the request for the teams services was initiated by the veterinary medical community there through county officials as a result of the significant damage caused by the tornado combined with the fact that most of the veterinary medical resources are around 20 miles from the impact area
during severe storm situations animals tend to go into hiding are hesitant to reemerge and tend to be fairly skittish when they do it is common for the animal response to a disaster to be delayed as a result and the degree of the problem usually only becomes apparent when communities begin clearing out debris according to vet director dr wesley bissett
because of this being able to place veterinary medical resources on site closer to the impact area is important in this situation bissett said
certainly this is a complicated time for everyone to deploy bissett said but because of everything going on providing for those animals is of the utmost importance
our lives have gotten so complicated with covid-19 and for this community to be hit with a tornado on top of everything else they need things to be ok; they need that hope he said the thing we know from all of the teams deployments is that putting animals and people back together provides that hope
its a challenging trying time but this is a community that im sure has been turned upside down he said were needed and were very committed to this mission because we know what it means
covid-19 also complicates deployment for the vet; to mitigate potential issues the vet will maintain a small footprint will require members to wear face masks at all times and will practice all of the precautions currently being practiced in texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital where vet members have also been assisting with curbside admissions and discharge processes initiated because of the pandemic
we will continue to take all of the steps that we can in terms of personal protection to keep our people safe bissett said we want to have enough there to support polk county but not too many so that we can do all of those things that are so important in keeping people safe
the team anticipates a short deployment of three to four days
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the majority of texas a&m veterinary students go on to careers in general practice but some become so enthralled with specific branches of medicine that they decide to dedicate their entire careers to that field
such is the case with annalis cigarroa maria granello and hunter enderle who plan to take their professional aspirations to the next level after completing their doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degrees by pursuing years of additional training and hands-on experience that will allow them to earn board certification in a high-demand veterinary specialty
becoming boarded in one of the american veterinary medical associations 41 recognized specialties means specialty candidates must complete a one-year internship and a residency program that can span up to three years; publish original research; and pass additional examinations
this type of training substantially deepens the veterinarians knowledge and skill set i loved medicine since i was a child but then i also figured out that i loved surgery in our junior surgery course i didnt want either of them to be exclusive cigarroa said i think neurology is the perfect specialty that combines medicine and surgery i also like that for a large portion of the patients we see some of the surgeries truly can restore the animal
cigarroa is proud of her hometown laredo and that pride has influenced her decision to pursue a veterinary specialty
laredo is a really unique city because there is such a blend of mexican and american culture she said everywhere you go every restaurant and shop you walk into youll be spoken to in english and in spanish as a result theres a laredo accent laredo sayings and other things that are just unique to border life
however this booming city which is the top trade port in the nation has a healthcare deficit in specialty veterinary medicine
the closest specialty practice in south texas is in san antonio (more than 150 miles away) said cigarroa who grew up with many foster pets and rode quarter horses in cutting events there are so many growing cities like laredo mcallen and even corpus christi that dont have close access
cigarroas interest in medicine was piqued as a child by her father who is a human cardiologist i always had a love for medicine she said it just wasnt until later in my (undergraduate) studies that i decided it was a love for veterinary medicine and not human medicine
the fourth-year student who entered the dvm program with a degree in science pre-professional from notre dame hopes to combine her passion for animals medicine and the texas border region to build a bilingual practice that specializes in small animal neurology in her hometown
im interested in bringing specialty medicine further into south texas she said i hope within the next 10 years there can be a shift whether thats just providing some aspect of specialty care in south texas or coming up with a way to bring specialty medicine in just one area and having it serve a greater population
horses are an integral part of granellos life
as a young girl she started competing in eventing an equestrian sport similar to a triathlon and then continued her passion as a member of the varsity equestrian team at sewanee: the university of the south
now granello wants to pursue a profession that will allow her to work with these animalswhich has led her to commit to specializing in equine sports rehabilitation
i always want to keep horses in my life and then i found that veterinary medicine is a really great way to be engaged every day with both horses and the people who love and care for them like i do she said
the native of dallas who holds an undergraduate degree in biology and a chemistry minor from sewanee believes the cvms program provided a solid and comprehensive veterinary foundation
even though im an equine track we get exposed to everything at a&m which i think makes us more well-rounded she said but i have really enjoyed my time on the equine rotations
granello has completed four rotations focused on horses and three externships at equine referral hospitals across the nation the next step on her professional journey is an internship at the prestigious littleton equine medical center in denver
afterwards she plans to pursue either a surgery or sports medicine residency which will prepare her to work with horses that are worth millions of dollars
im really interested in performance horses and helping these horses reach athletic and performance potential granello said i really respect and am interested in how to improve and keep them at peak form
she credits texas a&m for preparing her to be successful in this fast-paced and high-pressure setting
i think that the cvms professors and clinicians are very encouraging and they really want you to succeed in your goals and your career granello said i have felt like everyone here wants the students to succeed and be the best veterinarians they can coming out of this program
enderles path to a veterinary medicine career took an unexpected detour when his first application to the cvm wasnt accepted
that was a little bit of a heartbreaker for me said the midlothian resident who earned a biomedical sciences degree from texas a&m in three years it was my first defeat in life
his initial interest in a career in veterinary medicine had been fostered by his passion for several academic subjects
it was my interest in math and science and then my love of animals he said these two interests came together and formed this veterinary medicine career path
enderles unexpected gap year resulted in valuable hands-on experience returning home to regroup enderle accepted a job as a technician at a dallas-area specialty veterinary hospital
over the next year he was introduced to a number of sub-specialtiesincluding internal medicine emergency medicine and oncologyand had the opportunity to work with cvm associate professor dr ashley saunders who offered cardiology consultations in the dallas area
that experience led to his acceptance to the cvms veterinary medicine program and the development of a mentor relationship with saunders it also helped him realize that he wanted to pursue a specialty
i knew in my first year of vet school that cardiac physiology clicked for me he said it just made sense and i was good at it having worked in the specialty practice i was drawn toward the more specialized part of being good at one thing
enderle believes earning board certification in cardiology will prepare him to be successful in the middle ground between medicine and surgery
the cardiologists do a lot of interventional procedures so theyre closing off patent ductus arteriosus; theyre doing a noninvasive procedure to fix a dogs heart from a disease it was born with he said but then cardiologists also work with a lot of medications and medicine management of really complicated congestive heart failure cases they work with imaging like echocardiograms you see a good variety but you also get really good at the things that are common
ultimately enderle wants to return to the dallas-fort worth metropolitan area
dallas is an underserved area for cardiology right now i think theres one cardiologist in the dallas area he said for as many people that are there its just not enough
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
students in texas a&ms veterinary class of 2020 represent a couple of milestones for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
not only will the students slated to graduate may 6 be the 100th class of aggie veterinarians but because of the covid-19 pandemic they will earn the distinction of being the first class of aggie veterinarians to harness the power of the internet to celebrate their commencement
on may 6 instead of walking across the stage of rudder theater the 132 graduating members of the veterinary class of 2020 will log into zoom to watch a video that features some of the most treasured traditions of their graduation ceremony
we wanted to provide our veterinary students with something memorable understanding that while we cant necessarily fill the void that will happen when they do not actually get to walk across the stage and receive their degrees we can do something to recognize their accomplishments said dr karen cornell cvm associate dean for professional programs were working to make this as close to the experience of the real graduation ceremony as we can under the circumstances
we had discussed a lot of options for handling graduation and while we would hope that our students would come back to college station for a ceremony realistically we realized that its not very likely that they would all be able to return cornell said we felt that the best way to ensure that everyone can participate and celebrate together was to move to a virtual ceremony
in addition to the traditional pomp and circumstance affiliated with graduation cvm administrators led by cornell have worked to create a more personalized experience for the graduates
this includes the dvm candidates being mailed their regalia to wear during the ceremony and when the ceremony gets to the point in the program where cornell administers to candidates the veterinarians oath the broadcast will go live allowing every member in the class to recite the oath together
it means a lot to me and to the class that the administration decided to host a virtual ceremony for us said taylor adams president of the class of 2020 with many other veterinary schools are canceling graduation or graduating their fourth-year students early we are very excited to get to celebrate virtually with our families and classmates
i know that this virtual ceremony has required a lot of hard work during an already challenging time and we are grateful for our administrators efforts to make our graduation day special she said it is absolutely not the way we hoped to graduate but commemorating this day and this moment that we have all looked forward to for so long will be very nice it will definitely be a great story to tell later
family members and other loved ones will be able to watch the festivities from home as the virtual graduation ceremony will be streamed via facebook live on the cvms facebook page (@tamuvetmed) and on the dvm class of 2020 website
those interested in watching can visit the cvms facebook page and click going on the dvm class of 2020 virtual graduation event
the ceremony will begin at 2 pm
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
jillian villalva has always been fascinated with birds
as a kid my parents would lose me when we were walking places because i would see some bird and want to follow it to figure out what it was doing said the fourth-year veterinary student
growing up in portland oregon the force that drew her to nature also instilled in her a love for all animals and especially exotic birds which have always held a special place in her heart
my grandfather was a woodsman and was really fascinated by birds she said i would go out walking with him and he would tell me about all of the different species; he knew all of them
birds always just felt magical to me villalva said theyre flighty and weird and you have to be quiet and sneak up on them so when you get to be near one you feel privileged because its not something that people normally get to do you feel very special when you work with them
when she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian a career in avian medicine was the obvious choice
birds and other exotic animals typically require a sensitive touch and precise care to remain happy and healthy as pets the veterinarian caring for these animals must understand the uniqueness of each species and know how to recognize the slightest changes in appearance or behavior
its just a completely different mindset of how you approach your patients villalva said i like paying attention to the really tiny details and the long conversations that you end up having with owners
exotic medicine is about connecting with the person and getting them on the right page being excited about what theyre doing and happy because they feel like they know how to understand or bond with their animal she said thats what makes me feel really fired up about medicine
to begin working toward a career in exotic medicine villalva studied ecology and conservation biology for her undergraduate degree at boston university she then moved south to texas to be near her husbands family and begin her veterinary education at texas a&m
in her third year as a veterinary student villalva had the opportunity to attend an educational abroad trip with cvm associate professor dr donald brightsmith they traveled to peru to continue his ongoing research on the scarlet macaw a species that is experiencing declining numbers in the wild
brightsmiths research focuses on macaw chick-rearing behavior with an emphasis on finding ways to improve chick survival rates mother macaws typically lay multiple eggs over a period of time but only care for the chick that hatches first because it is the largest
through previous studies brightsmith discovered that by removing a chick and rearing it by hand it could then be translocated to a different nest with a chick of the same size after several days the mother macaw would accept the new chick and begin feeding it along with her own chick
as a veterinary student villalva was interacting directly with the chicks to assess their health take measurements and track their growth
it was the coolest thing ive ever done she said we walked around the jungle climbed 100- to 150-foot trees in the amazon and played with baby macaws
i really loved the collaboration between all of the scientists there because everyone was coming from a different background with slightly different focuses she said it was this huge collaboration of minds all coming together to solve problems and think about things critically
after graduation villalva plans to begin a practice route specialization in avian and exotic medicine this method of specialization involves writing case reports while working in a clinic and then submitting those reports for a chance to take an exam for board certification
she then plans to open her own clinic somewhere in texas and spend every day caring for the birds and other exotic animals she loves
texas is so unique in that it has this private sector of exotic medicine villalva said with most places in the rest of the country when you want to do exotics you have to do public medicineat a zoo a rehab center or something thats run by the stateso the medicine is really different
when i came here i was excited to see opportunities in private exotic medicine that had the patients ive loved forever and the type of medicine that i love she said
with a strong passion for such a unique area of veterinary medicine villalva is sure to have an exciting career ahead of her full of the animals she has been fascinated with for her entire life
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
unlike with many of his peers veterinary medicine wasnt timothy turners first career choice
i wanted to be an astronaut first but when i was 10 i was fishing with my grandpa and we found a big piece of metal in lake nacogdoches he said we started asking around to find out what it could be and learned that it might be a piece of the space shuttle columbia that had blown up several years earlier that cured me of ever wanting to fly to space
while the douglas texas native got what he might believe to be a late start in veterinary medicineconsidering that he would complete his homeschool curriculum and enter stephen f austin state university (sfa) at 14he began focusing the same energy and attention that were preparing him for a career in astrophysics into veterinary apprenticeship shadowing under the watchful eye of dr jim weatherly 80
after a year or two dr weatherly really started to notice that my interest was shifting from just i love animals to really paying attention to and loving the work in medicine especially with large animals turner said so he really took me under his wing he pushed me and made me see what i would be doing in the future and how i can make the profession better even though hes an old school veterinarian he was always striving to make the profession better every single day
he taught me about veterinary medicine to the point that by the time i left there at 16 or 17 years old he had begun joking ‘youre just going for a piece of paper now because he gave me what knowledge he could in that time turner said he basically is the reason im here today
at sfa turner studied animal science while working for weatherly when he wasnt initially accepted into veterinary school at texas a&m he decided to stick around sfa and pursue degrees in chemistry and biochemistry this ended up being fortuitous for turner as he met his wife (meg who is now a medical student at texas college of osteopathic medicine in fort worth) in organic chemistry class
living apart while dating and then as a married couple presented its challenges; however knowing that medical school was just a pit stop on the journey to a life together as doctors and the mutual understanding of the grueling nature of their curriculaalong with conscious effort and facetimehave allowed the turners to make it work
it hasnt hurt that their mutual love of medicine has brought them together in sometimes unexpected ways such as when megs cat charlie ate a piece of string that became stuck in his intestines; because the cost of surgery was preclusive for medical students the pair met at a family friends veterinary clinic where under the veterinarians watchful eye turner removed the foreign object
it was a great bonding moment it saved her cat and we got to be medically associated together turner said it was just a really great experience
while turner plans to devote his career primarily to bovine medicine circumstances like that of megs cat have also reinforced his love for small animal surgery
charlie was very sick; in another couple of hours he could have died but we performed surgery for an hour and a half and he woke up happy healthy and ready to eat soft food its just amazing the turnaround surgery can have turner said
a picture-perfect day in the life of tim as a veterinarian would be spending three or four days a week out in the field working on cattle and then a couple of days locked away in small animal surgery he said surgery is just very satisfying to me
that picture-perfect day would also include being back home in a small east texas town working at and eventually owning a mixed animal practice with his wife also working at or perhaps owning a rural medicine practice
turner does admit that the concern among students about pay in rural communities when associated with veterinary student debt also concerns him but ultimately his desire to help improve the veterinary situation in east texas drives him to serve at home
i dont necessarily think theres a lack of large animal veterinarians in east texas but i dont know that owners see the full value of our veterinary services they can give their own antibiotics they can buy a lot of vaccinations they can de-hornthey can do a lot on their own turner said where veterinary medicine is having to shift is helping producers understand that our knowledge on nutrition on selecting heifers and other aspects of preventative medicine ultimately benefits the business
for example if we select the cows that arent going to have problems calving if i can get the number of calves that are getting stuck and having to be pulled down then i help the producer hes not spending money on the dystocias; it takes less recovery time for the cow; the calf does better turner said thats something im going to have to actively go out and promote i will have to be service-oriented and consult-oriented so yes i am concerned about my debt but i dont think its insurmountable
that milk-glass-half-full mindset has driven turner throughout his educational experiencewhether it was learning the minutia of cattle medicine to provide services that he knows hell soon have to do on his own or the hard work its taken to get him where he is turner has simply enjoyed the ride
i really overworked myself that last year of undergrad and so during veterinary school i have made it a point to find the joy of what im doing each and every day turner said ive always wanted to be an aggie ever since i was little and i think a lot of it was dr weatherlys pride in the school he was always proud of his ring and has worn it every day of his life since hes gotten it
when i sit down and think about it ive enjoyed every minute of veterinary school he said i know that its not a very common opinion but if you told me that i had to start back from day one in order to be a veterinarian i would do it all over again i really would
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note: this story originally appeared in the spring 2020 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
in an effort to better serve patients the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) has adjusted its curbside admissions process for its small and large animal hospitals effective april 20
curbside admission and discharge processes continue at the small animal hospital (sah); however clients should now enter the normal small animal hospital parking lot (lot 38) off of raymond-stotzer parkway
after turning into lot 38 clients can park in any of the numbered spaces and should call the telephone number listed on the sign to get their pet checked in and begin the admissions process
curbside admission and discharge processes also continue at the large animal hospital (lah) clients will continue to use the traditional route to the large animal hospital (from raymond-stotzer parkway turn onto veterinary way and then right at the stop sign following the road around to and through the gates)
once in lot 45 (the normal large animal hospital client parking) clients can park in numbered spaces designated for equine and food animal patients (please see the map below) clients should then call the telephone number listed on the sign to begin the admissions process
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences veterinary medical teaching hospital is continuing our efforts to provide essential veterinary medical services in a way that is safe for our clients faculty and staff said dr wesley bissett associate professor and director of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team while this admissions process is different than how we normally function our commitment to providing excellence and compassion remains the same we urge everyone to stay safe and heed all public health recommendations for successfully navigating through the covid-19 pandemic
currently the vmth is still only seeing urgent and emergent cases owners are encouraged to call ahead of time for small animal (979-845-2351) and large animal (979 845-3541) emergencies
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
taylor adams the president of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences (cvm) doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) class of 2020 is interested in the behind-the-scenes work that leadership requires
adams had a great impact within the cvm where the dallas native endeavored to include as many different students and backgrounds as possible
i liked the format of our officer meetings and getting to work with a diverse group of officers she said our goal was to listen to every member of the class and ensure that we were not just appealing to one group of the class
community is an important part of leadership for adams her favorite event of the year was fur ball an annual formal event for veterinary students because the turnout was so large and brought every class year of the cvm together for an evening the connections she built are what she considers most valuable about her time at the cvm
with an interest in small animal surgery adams dedication to detail and willingness to run the backstage of important events will prove to be valuable her wealth of experience in many different roles has given her the ability to juggle multiple variables at once as a veterinarian often must
i am used to multitasking she said i had a job during undergrad and was president of my sorority while taking a minimum of 18 hours each semester during our clinical rotations it was very similar and required multitasking because i still had work i needed to do for our class officer team
for her final duty as class president adams will address her fellow class of 2020 veterinary students during a virtual graduation ceremony in may
she will then head to the colorado state university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences for a small animal rotating internship where her leadership experience will pave the way for a bright future as an aggie veterinarian
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr noah cohen the patsy link chair in equine research at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has identified an alternative treatment for foal pneumonia that avoids the use of often over-prescribed antibiotics
in research funded by the morris animal foundation cohen and collaborators found that gallium maltolate (gam) a metal-based compound with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties resolved subclinical pneumonia (ie pneumonia identified in foals that did not have clinical signs such as fever coughing a depressed attitude etc) without increasing the number or diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the foals fecal samples
antibiotic resistance is a pressing issue in todays world overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics have increased the prevalence and diversity of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic medications this creates superbugs that doctors have no way of combatting opening vulnerabilities in human health the health of our animals and the health of our food system
foal pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death and disease in foals and has no licensed vaccine it is often caused by the bacteria rhodococcus equi (r equi) which occur naturally in soil
pneumonia caused by r equi is insidious meaning it progresses gradually and is well established by the time symptoms appear so many farms screen foals using chest ultrasound examinations to find foals that are developing pneumonia before they show clinical signs of disease
veterinarians then treat the foals that have chest lesions indicating pneumonia however because many of these foals that have chest lesions seen on ultrasound wont go on to develop pneumonia a large proportion of foals get treated with antibiotics needlessly
while that treatment strategy saves lives in the short term its really driving this resistance problem because for every one foal that needs treatment several foals that dont need treatment wind up getting antibiotics cohen said
in this study published in the journal scientific reports researchers from texas a&m and the university of georgia investigated the use of gam as an alternative to a macrolide antibiotic plus rifampin (mar) an antibiotic combination that is the standard treatment for r equi foal pneumonia
foals with signs of subclinical pneumonia were given either gam or mar for two weeks
after two weeks foals treated with mar displayed an increase in their number and diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their fecal samples alarmingly many of these bacteria were resistant to multiple drugs and antibiotics
in foals treated with gam however bacteria collected from fecal samples showed no change in the number or diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria this finding suggests that while treatment with mar promotes the abundance of antibiotic resistant bacteria treatment with gam did not affect the amount of these harmful germs
this is important because horses are often kept in groups; therefore the fecal bacteria of one animal may infect or colonize another healthy foal living on the same soil
another concern of using mar in the treatment of foal pneumonia is that the excrement of horses taking this medication may contain traces of unabsorbed antibiotic this study showed that antibiotic entering soil will increase selection for bacteria that are resistant in the soil
researchers hope to next test the effectiveness of gam on foals that are clinically infected with r equi
this study comes at a vital time as bacteria evolve faster than scientists develop new drugs antibiotic alternatives such as the substance investigated by cohen and his colleagues are integral to ensuring the future of our food systems our animal friends and our own health
the world health organization has identified antimicrobial resistance as a top threat to human health cohen said there is an urgent need in human and veterinary medicine to identify alternative antimicrobials because bacteria can evolve resistance so rapidly and often to multiple classes of drugs
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) completed a pivotal step in the development of its 2+2 veterinary program on april 13 when the college received official program approval from the american veterinary medical association (avma) council on education (coe)
with this approval the cvm has permission to implement the 2+2 program through its veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program on west texas a&m universitys (wt) campus this means that additional veterinary students will be able to complete the first two years of their four-year veterinary curriculum in canyon texas
the 2+2 program helps fulfill a 10-year goal to increase large animal veterinary medicine in the texas panhandle said texas a&m university system chancellor john sharp it makes west texas a&m the gateway to one of the best veterinary schools in the nation
we are extremely excited that our 2+2 program has been approved by the avma coe said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m this is a benchmark step that puts texas a&m and wt one step closer to fulfilling a plan we have been working on for over a decade now
through our vero program texas a&m the cvm and wt are fulfilling a promise we made to the citizens of texas to further address the need for rural and food animal veterinarians needs that affect our food supply the state of texas economy and citizens of the texas panhandle as well as rural communities across the state she said
it also supports our texas youth who have aspirations for careers in veterinary medicine while the launch of the vero program has already tripled the number applicants from wt being admitted to the cvms veterinary curriculum this approval brings us one step closer to being able to admit even more students from wt and the texas panhandle region who can then close to home receive an education from one of the best veterinary schools in the nation green said we anticipate that many of these veterinary graduates will choose to return home to serve their hometown communities
through the 2+2 program the first cohort of up to 18 texas a&m first-year veterinary students will begin their doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) education at the vero facility in fall 2021
those students will spend their first two years in canyon on wts campus where they will receive essentially the same basic dvm education provided in college station but with convenient exposure to livestock and rural veterinary medicine according to green
every year after there will be two cohorts at one time cycling through the canyon location before their third year at the cvm in college station with the option of returning to canyon for a portion of their fourth-year clinical rotations
the cohort will increase the total number of students enrolled in the cvms dvm program to 180 the largest in the nation
we are pleased that the american veterinary medical association council on education sees the same potential in our 2+2 program that we do said dr walter wendler wt president bringing excellent veterinary faculty and resources to the texas panhandle area addresses critical needs and opens new opportunities for students in the texas panhandle to become aggie veterinarians
the 2+2 program is one of many programs the cvm has implemented in the texas panhandle since 2009 through the cvms vero initiative cvm faculty members live and work in the texas panhandle they are housed at wtamu where they are actively recruiting and mentoring pre-veterinary students
they also offer unique educational opportunities for current cvm veterinary students including immersive externships summer internships and food animal production-focused tours that introduce them to the region and the livestock industries an essential focus is working with veterinarians and livestock industry leaders in the region the college station campus and vero are seamlessly connected bringing the resources of college station to the texas panhandle and vice versa
all of these activities have been supported by more than $95 million in investments by the texas a&m university system including most recently a $5 million commitment to support additional faculty hires for the 2+2 program
as part of the approval process the avma coe will monitor the implementation of the 2+2 program through the cvms subsequent interim reports which will update the avma coe on the implementation of the program including additional clinical resources identified and additional faculty and staff hires the next interim report will be due dec 15 2020
the approval will also require a focused site visit that will occur in the second semester of the second year of the initial 2+2 class during which a site team will visit the vero facilities at wt and will interview students and vero faculty
for more information on the 2+2 program and the cvms vero initiative visit https://vetmedtamuedu/vero/
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science jgauntt@cvmtamuedu 979-862-4216; chip chandler west texas a&m university 806-651-2124 cchandler@wtamuedu
many so-called super-food fads come and go before the scientific community has a chance to study them but new research suggests that one recent trendcoconut oilmay mitigate the features of metabolic syndrome
dr annie newell-fugate an assistant professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary physiology and pharmacology (vtpp) recently presented research that offers insight into the potential benefits of dietary coconut oil
approximately 40 percent of american women are obese and are at risk for metabolic syndrome which is characterized by increased blood pressure high blood sugar excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels all of which increase the risk of heart disease stroke and type 2 diabetes
newell-fugates work focuses on improving the metabolic health of obese females struggling with metabolic syndrome rather than focusing on weight loss alone
most people in the nutrition and kinesiology fields are focused on weight loss to improve the health of obese patients newell-fugate said there are researchers looking at different types of dietslike the mediterranean diet or keto dietand their effects on weight loss and overall health however the notion that you can potentially change the diet without causing weight loss yet still improve an individuals health has not received much attention
in her study newell-fugate and her team sought to determine whether a high-fat diet that incorporates coconut oil a plant fat source could improve the overall health and metabolism of obese females in comparison to the health of obese females fed a western-style diet containing lard an animal fat source
over an eight-month period newell-fugate and her team fed two groups of female pigs high-fat diets consisting of 4 500 calories per pig per day both the western-style diet and the coconut oil diet received 9 percent of their daily caloric intake from their respective fat sources a third group was fed a low-calorie lean diet as a control
we established each animals baseline before they went on their diet newell-fugate said then we assessed their blood glucose cholesterol and weight throughout the study; at the end we were able to compare how much difference each of the diets had on these metabolic health parameters over time
the researchers found that the obese group which received coconut oil had decreased features of metabolic syndrome specifically with respect to cholesterol and blood glucose levels in comparison to the obese group fed the lard-containing diet
our research suggests that dietary coconut oil may be used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications and anti-diabetic drugs to treat metabolic syndrome at least in women with obesity newell-fugate said
the one thing i set out to understand with this particular project is determine whether coconut oil can modulate these metabolic parameters despite the fact that the females are still obese she said and the answer is yes
she recently presented her findings on the potential health benefits of coconut oil virtually at the annual endocrine society meeting endo 2020
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the covid-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures have severely disrupted the way people are living on a global scale
but as a leader in innovation and veterinary telemedicine the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) is uniquely situated to continue providing unparalleled care to its clients and patients despite current circumstances
we have been blessed to have dean (eleanor m) green who recognized the important role that telemedicine would play in the veterinary profession especially as both private practice business models evolve and technology improves said dr lori teller a cvm clinical associate professor and the first veterinarian hired in academia for the sole purpose of telemedicine clients would much rather get reliable and trustworthy information from their veterinarian via telemedicine than through internet searches
greens prediction that veterinary telemedicine would play an important role in the future of the veterinary profession is allowing texas a&m veterinarians to continue serving their clients and patients with little interruption in the current covid-19 crisis
weve seen a tremendous increase in the engagement with and the use of telemedicine teller said with the orders from the government to discontinue elective procedures and only take on urgent and emergent cases we still need to be able to help our clients and patients with problems before they do become urgent virtual care can fill this need
the vmth is currently acting as a trailblazer in implementing this technology to such a large scale
to my knowledge there are no other veterinary colleges that have integrated telemedicine as we have at texas a&m teller said a couple of other institutions have been using it for educational or research purposes but not for direct patient care or consults with our specialists
as the expected duration of social distancing measures remains in question the us food and drug administration (fda) has recognized the importance of telemedicine changing their guidelines to allow veterinarians to prescribe certain medications over telehealth appointments
the vmth has also been expanding the limits of veterinary telemedicine by broadening the range of services offered through the cvms telehealth program virtualvet
the virtualvet program has expanded from two services to 10 and now incorporates clinicians from the small and large animal hospitals so we can meet the needs of diverse types of animals the number of cases that have been handled has grown exponentially teller said this is just another way the vmth can help provide excellent care to our clients patients and the veterinarians who need our assistance in caring for the animals of texas
pet owners seeking veterinary care through a telehealth appointment need only a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone teller said most smartphones work well for this use
currently only existing clients of the vmth are eligible for care through the colleges virtualvet telemedicine program other veterinarians are also able to use virtualvet to consult with one of the hospitals many experts on cases for which a specialist may be needed
since the vmth has restricted in-person care to urgent and emergent cases there are still many patients that need our help teller said some of these may be animals with chronic conditions that we need to maintain regular contact so that their conditions dont worsen we can use a virtual visit to do rechecks and if necessary tweak treatment plans
other times clients may be unsure if the patient needs to come in so the clinicians can do a virtual visit assess the patient and then be prepared for patients that do need to be seen physically she said
though telemedicine is an excellent tool for ensuring that animals get the care they need in times of disruption teller emphasizes that in-person appointments cannot be replaced entirely
virtual care is just one part of veterinary care there are lots of things we can do with telemedicine but there are limitations sometimes we need to be able to put our hands on the patient and we need to be able to listen to the heart and lungs palpate joints and abdominal organs obtain samples or get imaging she said virtual visits can be wonderful ways to provide care for some things but not everything
if you think your pet requires emergency care seek veterinary help immediately teller advises that pet owners seeking emergency care call their clinic ahead of time to let their veterinarian know they are coming and what the problem appears to be
telemedicine is especially valuable during a pandemic because it can be used to help the veterinarian and the client determine if and when the patient needs to be seen in the hospital or if the problem can be managed at home at least for the short term teller said
this allows for social distancing to limit exposure of both clients and veterinary staff to an infectious disease while maintaining adequate care for the patient it also helps conserve ppe (personal protective equipment) and other resources for emergencies and for human health care facilities
owners interested in learning more about telehealth services at the vmth can visit the virtualvet portal at https://vetmedtamuedu/virtualvet/
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
in the months following the death of dr erin woods beloved 16-year-old cat lita wood found comfort in the song blackbird by the beatles
i love that song and i felt so broken after lita died; the song lyricsespecially the line ‘take these broken wings and learn to flyhad been running through my head said wood an assistant professor in the texas a&m university department of history
i love animals and my animals are my babies; theyre my family here wood said after lita died i really didnt know when or if id be ready to adopt another cat or another pet in general i want to help them all but i didnt know if i could go through another loss when i already have three other babies who i will most likely outlive
that changed however when she learned about a very sick black kitten named xena that was taken to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) in late 2019
xena was found very close to death stuck to a rodent glue trap she was first taken to an animal hospital in conroe but when it became clear that she was very sick and needed extensive care xenas foster brought her to the vmth where xena was found to have had severely decreased blood cell counts hypoglycemia hypothermia internal parasites and severe anemia in addition to a several other ailments
courtney bellew founder and director of the new york-based rescue special needs animal rescue and rehabilitation (snarr) responded to a call for help in a facebook post about the very sick kitten although the rescue is typically a dog rescue she said i couldnt scroll through and ignore the plea for help when i saw what terrible shape she was in
with the support of snarr and the vmths caseys good samaritan feline fund xena was able to get the life-saving treatment she desperately needed
in addition to supportive care assorted diagnostics and some medications and supplements xena needed a blood transfusion because she was lacking in red blood cells and had low blood volume said wood who became involved in xenas case after also learning about the kitten on social media
a blood transfusion turned out to be a difficult process as texas a&ms veterinarians discovered that xena has a rare feline blood type type b
since type b feline blood is not commonly available the veterinarians decided to give her a transfusion of type b canine blood this method comes with some risks but xena tolerated the transfusion and was able to receive a feline blood transfusion a few days later
shortly after thanksgiving wood decided to foster xena as a way of honoring her beloved lita while xena received treatment and continued on the road to recovery it didnt take long though for wood to realize that she wanted to make xena a permanent member of her family
because wood was giving xena a shot at a new life and a new home wood also wanted to give her a new name and knew exactly what that name should beblackbird or birdie for short
when i first saw a picture of her she looked so broken and the way her limbs were laid out reminded me of wings wood said she was such a fighter and so many people fought with her the lyrics just seemed so fitting she did have broken wings but she is definitely flying now
wood knew she would have to be careful during this time since she already had a house full of pets still at home including a 5-year-old dog named turtle and two other cats miles and trodaí
when bringing a rescue into a new home its important to integrate them slowly and get them acclimated before introducing them to other pets
to help with the adjustment for all of the animals and to allow birdie to finish physically recovering i took the integration really seriously wood said
now birdie has made herself at home and is growing more and more comfortable as time goes on
its been amazing and beautiful to have seen her go from a sick recovering little one to such a kitten wood said shes doing wonderfully now; shes gained weight has good energy is physically and mentally active and almost all of her fur has grown in
if you didnt know her backstory youd have no idea that just a few months ago she was critically ill and so close to death she easily could not be alive if she wasnt such a fighter and if so many people had not helped her in a multitude of ways
wood said birdie is sweet funny and curious
she loves climbing running around the house watching birds out the window and cuddling up with us wood said
birdie has even come around to befriending her canine siblings
she really enjoys her siblings wood said she plays or rather tries to play with them all including my roughly 55-pound dog she is super curious and has no fear she started becoming interested in them as soon as she started feeling better gained energy and got to be around them she kind of forced them all to be her friend
while birdie is not meant to replace lita wood feels as though shes a beautiful part of litas legacy
shes added a new piece of love to my broken heart wood said shes such a special little girl and im so happy and lucky that i get to be the one to give her what i hope will be a wonderful life
caseys good samaritan feline fund supports injured or sick cats in dire need of care that are brought to the vmth by good samaritans for treatment to contribute to this fund click here
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
lauren lewis phd a doctoral graduate from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology (ift) was selected to receive the 2020 texas a&m association of former students (afs) distinguished graduate student award in the category of excellence in research
every year the afs selects a group of 15 graduate students to receive an award in the category of research or teaching
after double majoring in biomedical sciences (bims) and entomology with a minor in french lewis went on to earn a doctorate in toxicology in 2019
her motivation for finishing her doctorate in toxicology was to become a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry
working in the pharmaceutical industry provides opportunities to make an impact on drug discovery and development with the ultimate goal of bringing life-saving therapies to as many patient populations as possible lewis said
lewis is now working at the cambridge massachusetts site of takeda a global research and development pharmaceutical company based in japan conducting research projects and developing models to improve safety evaluations she said that her time at the cvm helped develop her skills and passion preparing her for her future career
the cvm provided numerous professional development opportunities for trainees lewis said through workshops and research symposia i was able to practice effectively communicating my research findings to my peers as well as non-scientific audiences which is a key skill that i use every day as a research scientist
i am honored and truly humbled to be recognized among so many excellent graduate students at texas a&m lewis said i am very grateful for the opportunity to complete my phd in the interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology program i would like to thank my adviser lab-mates fellow tox students and cvm professors for all of their support
lauren has been an outstanding student a passionate researcher who overcame considerable personal hardship in graduate school and a true role model to other female students in our program the college and the larger profession of toxicology she has tirelessly volunteered her time to many worthy academic scientific and professional causes and is most deserving of this recognition said dr ivan rusyn professor in the cvm department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) who served as a primary adviser to lewis
the award ceremony honoring lewis and the other students will be scheduled at a later date
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
hollye felps a veterinary radiology technician at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) has been recognized with the 2020 texas veterinary medical association (tvma) licensed veterinary technician award
the award granted at a state level celebrates a veterinary technician whose service to the profession has made significant contributions to the veterinary field award winners are honored at the tvma annual conference and are profiled in the texas veterinarian magazine
as a support service sometimes our efforts get slightly overlooked so i am incredibly grateful to be recognized felps said thank you to my radiology team for their support in my efforts to establish the veterinary technician specialty in diagnostic imaging that was just founded last year this award is a prestigious recognition and i am very appreciative and gracious to be the recipient
felps has more than 15 years of experience as a veterinary radiology technician and holds credentials as a licensed veterinary technician of texas and a registered technician in magnetic resonance she also is a founding committee member of the most recently recognized technician specialty in diagnostic imaging (vtsdi) under the north american veterinary technician association (navta)
her involvement with the creation of the navta-vtsdi specialty required four years of work with nine other committee members shaping the requirements to officially establish the specialty her work has forged a path for future generations of veterinary technicians to receive the proper training and meet national regulations to become specialists in diagnostic imaging
felps is an active member of multiple veterinary associations including the north american veterinary technician association (navta) the texas veterinary medical association (tvma) and the american society of radiologic technologists
closer to home felps volunteers her time with the texas a&m partnership for environmental education and rural health (peer) program through which she shares scientific knowledge with middle and high school students through free online resources and classroom visits with peer felps also has presented material to an online conference of more than 500 participants in addition to presentations at other meetings
felps has made outstanding contributions to the veterinary field academically as a published author on multiple manuscripts; a contributor of articles to trade magazines in the field of veterinary radiology; and the recipient of numerous acknowledgements in publications for her ct assistance
hollye felps has been a dominate leader of the imaging department for over a decade said wade friedeck an assistant hospital administrator at the vmth she has helped the vmth launch the addition of the diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment center by learning state-of-the-art imaging equipment her expertise in imaging is unparallel in the veterinary technician community
felps dedication to her work at the vmth while also donating her time and effort to external causes shows the strength of character associated with the aggie spirit her commitment to animal wellness and improvement of the veterinary medicine field is well-acknowledged through this award
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
college station april 2 2020the covid-19 pandemic is a global crisis and government and health care organizations around the world are generating vast amounts of data and models to help inform decisions however the majority of impactful decisions on how to handle the crisis are made at the local level where consistent access and analysis of the data and models can be challenging
to help solve this issue a team of researchers from texas a&m university and north carolina state university have created an online dashboard the covid-19 pandemic vulnerability index (pvi) located at https://toxpiorg/covid-19/map/ to assist local state and federal authorities in making decisions about hot-spots in covid-19
the response from the scientific community to the covid-19 pandemic has been enormous and the information that becomes available on different aspects of the disease spread are now available and useful said dr ivan rusyn director of the texas a&m superfund research center (src) and a university professor in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs)
where the covid-19 pvi dashboard is different from other attempts to synthesize data for local leaders and the public is that it gives each county a concise vulnerability scorecard which integrates multiple vulnerability indicators related to infection status mitigation efforts and pandemic-related vulnerabilities the team adapted the web-based decision-support dashboard toxpi*gis for the covid-19 response
globally there is a general road map for the steps in addressing the pandemic and in the united states everyone is still at the first steptrying to reduce the spread of the virus through social distancing however it can be difficult for localities to understand how such interventions are reducing their vulnerability to continued infections
additionally the time will eventually come to start gradually easing restrictions but deciding when and where to begin that process is going to be very difficult state and local leaders will have to closely monitor for disease resurgence while considering the capacity of their local healthcare system
our approach is to integrate these complex data and to communicate the results through easy to understand county-level scorecard rusyn said
for state leaders the dashboard can help identify current and more importantly potential hot spots which will assist in prioritizing resources
the main limitation of most of the online maps currently available is that they are looking in the rear-view mirror especially due to the long incubation period of covid-19 said vibs professor weihsueh chiu another member of the team we aim to fill this gap by developing a vulnerability index to identify potential future hot spots and thus help decision-makers initiate intensify or relax interventions as appropriate
the team is seeking input from local officials and experts to continue to refine the dashboard and its functionality in order to best support decision-making
moreover all of our software and results are fully open source and transparent added professor chiu and we invite outside scrutiny to help us make rapid updates and improvements
the toxpi*gis covid-19 dashboard was adapted from a recently released tool called hgbenviroscreendeveloped by chiu drs david reif and skylar marvel both from north carolina state university in raleigh nc as part of texas a&m superfund research centerto serve the houston-galveston-brazoria (hgb) region in integrating and visualizing national and local data on environmental health to address regional concerns
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
alyssa kool a second-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) likes to keep busy
a student athlete-turned-veterinary student she credits her successes in veterinary school to the skills in time management communication and dedication that she learned through her sport
raised in plano kool had always been surrounded by a wide cast of pets including cats dogs frogs and hamsters she developed an interest in animal care in high school when she raised sheep for two years through the future farmers of america organization
i knew i wanted to be a veterinarian since i was 4 years old kool said im one of those people who just knew pretty much from birth and has always gone on this path
in addition to her strong interest in animals kool developed a passion for volleyball in the third grade
this passion has paid off landing kool at the usa volleyball girls junior national championship five times and taking her across the country for the sport after graduating high school kool accepted an offer from arkansas tech university a ncaa division ii school to play on their team as a setter she played for three years before being disqualified from competition for multiple concussions
in addition to her achievements playing volleyball kool earned two degrees during her time at arkansas tech universityone in biology and another in agricultural business strong time management skills were integral to her success in both athletics and academics
i was involved in a lot she said i was a student athlete so we were traveling three times a week for games i was in multiple clubs; i was president of a few and i spread myself pretty thin
kools intense undergraduate experience prepared her well for the fast-paced environment of veterinary school she believes
being challenged with my time as an undergraduate made me to learn how to plan kool said i follow a schedule for each day i wouldnt have been able to adapt as quickly as i have if i didnt learn how to follow a tight schedule
the comradery kool shared with her volleyball team has also enriched her experience in veterinary school as she learned to trust and collaborate with her peers in high-stress situations the position she playedsettergave kool the confidence to step out as a leader in fast-paced environments
setter is kind of the quarterback of volleyball ive always been super vocal so ive always been a leader she said im good at following my gut ive learned from high pressure situations on the court and applied that to the high-pressure situations of taking a test or being in a surgery
i am able to step back from that high-stress feeling and take a deep breath to just breathe through the situation she said
kool remains involved with the sport playing on an intramural volleyball team with other veterinary students at the cvm she is also a zoetis student representative member of the cvm white coats health and wellness representative for the class of 2022 student chapter of the american veterinary medical association wellness chair and a member of student chapter of the american association of bovine practitioners and of the christian veterinary foundation
after she graduates from the cvm kool hopes to pursue a career in mixed rural medicine in the south a specialty that requires the veterinarian to be proficient in the treatment of all species
im drawn to the everyday challenge of it she said as a veterinarian you never know whats going to walk through the doors especially rural mixed you literally could have a fox walk in or a snake
kool is motivated by the interpersonal relationships rural mixed animal veterinarians form with the members of their community the support she would provide at emotional times in a pet owners life such as adopting a new pet or caring for an old friend at the end of their life is a task that kool would like to step up to
i think part of that just stems from that background of being an extrovert kool said a lot of my motivation comes from the fact that i really like to help people and be with them through it all
kool in part credits her desire to work with people to the mentors who have supported her in her journey to veterinary school this list includes her volleyball coach mixed rural veterinarians with whom she has interned and cvm professors who have offered guidance along the way
an amazing community is formed around me and im really thankful for the people i have she said my mentors in my undergraduate education pushed me along every day
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while many scientific meetings across the country are being cancelled this saturday (april 4 2020) a large texas cohort of toxicology faculty and trainees will be utilizing an online format to replace some of the events that were scheduled for march in anaheim california as part of the society of toxicology (sot) annual meeting
the one thing that will be well-represented at this virtual event is aggie toxicologists among the 36 virtual short talks about half will be led by texas a&m universitys interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology graduate students and postdocs most of them from the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
the covid-19 pandemic has had an incredible impact on academia many universities have moved to virtual courses and cancelled major events
dr ivan rusyn director of the toxicology training program and a university professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) described how the pandemic has impacted research specifically
the pandemics impact is most notable in the uncertainty of how the research can be planned and executed rusyn said with restrictions on interactions limitations on lab access and challenges with obtaining necessary reagents and services because of the impact on the world-wide supply chain the whole research enterprise is slowing down considerably which will have negative effects of yet-unknown proportions on the trainees and other researchers
in spite of the uncertainty the sot 2020 virtual meeting (texas edition) will still provide an opportunity for students to share the work they have dedicated their time and efforts to with some of the approximately 8 000 individuals from around the country who generally attend the sots annual five-day event
lectures and educational courses can still be presented by webinar though poster presentations cannot take place in the traditional format
with the in-person meeting being cancelled the society of toxicology is working hard to make at least some of the originally scheduled program available and accessible to the meeting attendees rusyn said this day-long meeting will be held via zoom and afford the opportunity for students from 11 toxicology training programs across texas to show their exciting work and answer questions this is an excellent opportunity for them to learn about each others work and interact with one another
texas a&m has had a major role in coordinating the meeting and recruiting speakers and participants because the texas a&m interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology makes up the largest number of participants in comparison to other toxicology programs from across the state the program decided to step up and help coordinate the event
our program is highly cohesive and supportive of trainee attendance to scientific meetings to open their personal and scientific horizons through interaction with peers rusyn said networking and communication skills are very important in their graduate education; therefore we feel strongly as a program that the hard work of preparing their posters doesnt go to waste and their efforts are recognized
the cvm students scheduled to present include:
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
4/21/2020 texas a&m vmth curbside admission discharge update
as the federal state and local procedures continue to evolve in response to the covid-19 pandemic the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) is dedicated to continuing to provide the highest level of care to our patients and is offering the answers to some frequently asked questions:
yes even though brazos county is currently under a shelter-in-place order the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) is considered an essential service and is still open for urgent and emergent cases for questions about the small animal hospital (sah) please call (979) 845-2351 for the large animal hospital please call (979) 845-3541
the parking lot in front of the small animal hospital (sah) is closed and all traffic should enter via veterinary way from raymond stotzer parkway upon entering a station has been set up where clients will be asked some basic screening questions and then will be instructed on where to proceed based on their answers see our video on the vmths drive-through services here
in an effort to ensure the safety of clients their animals and the staff inside the hospital a number of changes have been made in recent weeks the most noticeable are that clients will no longer leave their cars and that the vmth is currently not performing elective procedures
dr wesley bissett director of the veterinary emergency team says at this point what we know right now is that animals are not involved in the disease transmission cycle as something that can support viral infection and replication but what you do have to worry about is what virus may be on their coat
the solution to that is pretty straightforward and that is that the animal needs to be bathed with soap
but when youre bathing your pet you need to take some basic protections you need to wear gloves you need to have something on thats going to keep you from getting wet and making direct contact with the animal you also need to keep the water pressure low as youre getting the animal wet and then rinsing
but after that again from everything we know right now that animal is safe its not going to contribute to the disease so if youre concerned about that arrange for that type of bath to take place and then that animal should be safe in the event that you need to have one of your loved ones provide the care that it needs so you dont have to worry about that while youre recovering from illness
the small animal hospital is expanding its use of its telemedicine portal virtualvet for rechecks and other services to minimize trips to the hospital for information on virtualvet availability clients can email virtualvets@cvmtamuedu or call 979-845-2351
we are working with the texas division of emergency management (tdem) to help our colleagues in human medicine to access personal protective equipment
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
drs nick and unity jeffery a husband-and-wife duo at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) have received canine health research grants from the american kennel clubs (akc) canine health foundation (chf)
in celebration of its 25th anniversary the akc chf awarded more than $21 million in 36 new canine health research grants in february the selected projects were chosen based on their ability to meet the highest scientific standards and to have the greatest potential to advance the health of all dogs
in her dogs helping dogs laboratory unity jeffery an assistant professor in the cvms department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) will conduct research for her grant tumor-educated platelets: a minimally invasive liquid biopsy for early cancer diagnosis
studies in human medicine have shown that rna in blood platelets is a promising marker for various types of cancer
unity jefferys study in collaboration with drs emma warry jonathan lidbury and chris dolan from the cvms department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) will act as a proof of principle to determine if this information is translational into canine medicine
if so her research may be the first step in developing a blood-based screening test or liquid biopsy for canine cancer
one of the big problems with cancer in dogs is that because dogs cant talk they cant let us know when theyre starting to feel just a little bit unwell or show very mild symptoms she said that means that we often dont diagnose cancer in dogs until very late when the cancers already widespread throughout the body
by using a test that can detect cancer earlier veterinarians may be able to use more targeted treatment protocols that have reduced side effects
the hope of early diagnosis is that maybe thats your chance to fully eliminate the cancer rather than just prolong life she said
meanwhile cvm professor and neurologist nick jeffery will be working to extend results from a previous research project for his grant clinical trial of prevotella histicola supplementation to ameliorate meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (muo)
in a previous project nick jeffery found that dogs with muo a disease of the central nervous system that resembles multiple sclerosis in humans have an unusual balance of bacteria in their guts particularly one bacteria that is known for controlling inflammation was consistently at lower levels
his project will focus on providing supplements of that reduced bacteria to dogs with muo to hopefully improve the diseases outcome
were going to culture the bacteria and then put them into capsules that dogs can take every day he said the idea is that it will help us get better control of the disease which is quite serious and quite a lot of dogs will die of it were hoping that by supplementing with this bacteria we might improve their survival
in addition to improving the survival of dogs with muo the bacterial supplement could also provide a way to reduce the use of immunosuppressive drugs improving the dogs overall health and wellbeing
similar to the translational aspect of unity jefferys project nicks may also one day play a role in human medicine by suggesting a new treatment method for multiple sclerosis
i was very pleased to get the grant especially since it was a follow up on a previous study he said its fantastic to try out bacterial supplementation this sort of approach is pretty new in all medicine so its a great opportunity to test the idea and also try to fix dogs that have got a very serious condition
im very grateful to the akc canine health foundation and the owners and breeders who donate to the charity unity jeffery said my dogs helping dogs lab where we use canine patients and healthy volunteers to try to better diagnose and treat common canine diseases fits really nicely with the akcs mission to improve the health of both pedigree dogs and the whole canine population its a charity that i feel very honored to be funded by and very grateful for their continuing support
nick and i have pet dogs at home and we love our dogs; theyre our family she said for me i feel that i do the same type of research for my patients as a human doctor would do for theirs and thats whats great about working in a veterinary school and having the opportunity to obtain funding from sources like the akc
about the akc chf
since 1995 the akc canine health foundation has leveraged the power of science to address the health needs of all dogs with more than $56 million in funding to date the akc foundation provides research grants for the highest quality canine health research and shares information on the discoveries that help prevent treat and cure canine diseases the foundation meets and exceeds industry standards for fiscal responsibility as demonstrated by their highest four-star charity navigator rating and guidestar platinum seal of transparency learn more at wwwakcchforg
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
4/21/2020 texas a&m vmth curbside admission discharge update
covid-19 update faqs as vmth continues operation during shelter-in-place
the most important thing small animal clinical sciences department head dr jonathan levine wants people to know about the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospitals (vmth) response to the covid-19 pandemic is what hasnt changed and thats the standard of care inside the hospital
on the outside however people will notice some changes that have been implemented to protect both humans and animals
the biggest changes are that the vmth is currently accepting only emergent and urgent cases so that the hospital can direct resources to those animals most in need of medical care and that clients will no longer leave their cars during the admissions and discharge processes; to limit direct human-to-human contact and reduce the spread of germs clients will drop off their animals
our goals are to prioritize human health our clients health and our patients health so the steps youll see us taking now and in the future really focus on that and on maintaining excellent patient care and student education levine said
the parking lot in front of the small animal hospital (sah) is closed and all traffic should enter via veterinary way from raymond stotzer parkway upon entering a station has been set up where clients will be asked some basic screening questions and then will be instructed on where to proceed based on their answers
inside the hospital the biggest change is due in part to a national shortage of personal protective equipment (ppe) like surgical masks for the hospital staff
we have shifted our operations a little bit in that were not seeing elective cases levine said we think thats in the best interest of the public because of the emerging shortages of personal protective equipment we think its in the best interest of our staff and the animals so we will see animals that have urgent and emergent healthcare needs
we want to provide the very best standard of care and that hasnt changed at all he said so the most critical patients those that just cant wait we can provide outstanding service as we always have
the sah is also expanding its use of virtualvet a telemedicine portal for rechecks and other services to minimize trips to the hospital for information on virtualvet availability clients can email virtualvets@cvmtamuedu or call 979-845-2351
the sah had assistance in quickly making the necessary changes from the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) which has extensive experience in rapid response situations
the vets done amazing things throughout the state whether its wildfire response chemical disasters or hurricanes levine said they are an amazing service arm of this college what theyve done for us here is helped us operationalize emergency plans for our hospital very quickly a lot of this had to happen very quickly once we realized the full scale of the covid-19 outbreak
vet members are assisting with screening questions that are designed to identify not only the current status of the animal but also whether the owner is at risk of having been exposed to covid-19
according to vet director dr wesley bissett anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should have someone they trust and who hasnt been exposed bring their animal to the vmth; however the hospital is prepared to handle situations where thats not possible
though at this point there has been no indication that animals are carriers of the disease the vet is washing the animals of clients identified as higher risk to make sure they arent carrying the virus on their coats
above all bissett like levine wants to assure the public that these changes have been implemented so that the vmth can continue to provide the standard of care its known for
we havent had any covid-19 diagnoses at the small animal hospital bissett said we arent doing this because we have a disease problem internally; thats not whats behind it whats behind it is we need to stay fully functional and healthy that means we need our clinicians here and we need our staff here our best way for us to do that is to make sure that we dont inadvertently introduce the virus into the large or small animal hospital
see more photos of the small animal hospital drive-thru here
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
it is with heavy hearts that we must announce the cancellation of our 27th annual veterinary school open house after consulting with the administrators at texas a&m university and the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) the open house directors have decided the best way to serve the community and protect public health is to cancel the 2020 veterinary school open house we are so thankful for the hard work and support that went into planning everything and appreciate everyones understanding we sincerely hope you will be able to join us next year!
tori chambers & stephanie hill 2020 directors class of 2021 (march 13 2020)
originally posted february 20 2020
story by megan myers
as veterinary students prepare for the 27th annual veterinary school open house at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) anticipation is building among local animal lovers of all ages
from 9 am to 4 pm on saturday march 28 members of the public will be welcomed into the cvms veterinary & biomedical education complex (vbec) small animal hospital (sah) and large animal hospital (lah) for a fun day of free activities
along with the chance to meet 50 different species of animals open house attendees can expect many unique experiences including teddy bear surgery bryan police dog demonstrations and a visit from the houston mounted patrol
in the main hall of the vbecs veni building groups including the winnie carter wildlife center the texas veterinary medical foundation (tvmf) and the student organization aggies fostering hope will be hosting informational booths to introduce the public to their causes
this hall will also feature animal-themed artwork by children and teens in kindergarten through 12th grade from across the country
attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the first lady of aggieland miss reveille
throughout the day visitors can learn about some of the many hospital services and innovative treatments offered to patients of the texas a&m small and large animal hospitals during educational tours and demonstrations all organized and run by veterinary student volunteers
the sah will offer three tour options for which guests can pre-register though pre-registration is not required it is recommended as the spots are filled on a first-come first-served basis to pre-register for a tour email ohsahcoordinators@cvmtamuedu with a name the number of adults/children in the group and what time the group would like to tour
walk ups will also be welcome for both the sah and lah tours with spots being filled on a first-come first-served basis
the first veterinary school open house was held in 1993 and has grown to serve an average of 8 000 attendees each year open house relies solely on volunteer efforts and is made possible by the planning of a team of dedicated student officers
more than 80 veterinary students work year-round to coordinate all of the different exhibits and demonstrations for this one exciting day said open house co-director stephanie hill a third-year veterinary student it is truly a collaborative effort that wouldnt be possible without the passion our classmates have for our profession and for giving back to the next generation of aggie veterinarians
we love this event as we get to connect with our community and show them why we love veterinary medicine and this college said tori chambers open house co-director and third-year veterinary student
from a puppy kissing booth to a veterinary student q&a the veterinary school open house has something to offer for everyone
for more information about the event including frequently asked questions visit vetmedtamuedu/openhouse or follow the event on facebook instagram and twitter for updates and announcements
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr albert mulenga a professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) will spend four months continuing his research on tick vaccines in brazil thanks to a fulbright award
the prestigious award will support mulengas research abroad during which he will work alongside researchers in porto alegre brazil at the university rio grande do sul in addition to his research mulenga will teach a course and advise a brazilian graduate student who will be helping him conduct his research on tick vaccines
under the fulbright program mulenga is tasked with increasing mutual understanding between the people of the united states and the people of other countries according to the j william fulbright foreign scholarship board
this directive ties in closely to what mulenga as an immigrant feels his career represents
i represent what is possible in the united states he said when i came to this country i started my career as a postdoctoral fellow and now ive risen all the way to a professor and associate head of a department once you put your mind to it you can achieve what you want
the fulbright program is the largest and most diverse international exchange program; recipients are carefully selected on the basis of their leadership and contributions to society under the supervision of a 12-member presidentially appointed board
alumni of the program include 60 nobel laureates 86 pulitzer prize winners 74 macarthur fellows and countless other bright and influential members of society
mulenga is both honored and humbled to join their ranks
these former recipients have gone into leadership positions have done amazing things after the fulbright mulenga said the people who have gone through this program have benefited i want to make sure that i take advantage of those opportunities
dr ramesh vemulapalli professor and department head of vtpb at the cvm recommended mulenga for the award and believes that mulenga will find his place among previous recipients
dr mulengas scholarly accomplishments are a result of his scientific creativity tenacity and hard work vemulapalli said he represents the best of american values we are very proud that he is recognized as a fulbright scholar
mulengas research will be instrumental in improving cattle health in brazil and the united states the two leading beef producers globally according to the organization for economic co-operation and development (oecd) global consumption of beef is 145 kg per person each year as developing countries continue to grow economically global meat consumption is expected to increase
brazils cattle industry is huge mulenga said ticks and tick-borne disease are a very big impediment so they are trying to find solutions coming from texas its a win-win if im successful in this project the data could be directly applicable here
currently mulenga is conducting research to develop a vaccine against cattle fever ticks under kleberg foundation support this builds on his national institutes of health-funded research to understand how the lonestar tick and the blacklegged tick transmit human tick-borne diseases he believes that insight gained from his fulbright project in brazil will also translate to this ongoing study
the new vein of research mulenga will undertake in brazil will investigate a novel way to empirically evaluate antigens for new tick vaccines current vaccine development models involve first selecting an antigen then building a vaccine off of that molecule
his research in brazil will be unique in that he will be allowed to work in much closer proximity to these ticks than united states regulations would allow
there is a big benefit because in brazil i can directly observe cattle fever parasites he said my collaborator in brazil is allowed to work with infected ticks; im not allowed with uninfected or infected ticks we are restricted to working in a quarantine zone between the border of texas and mexico
though mulengas research and work as an ambassador will build off of his previous experiences he looks forward to combining his strengths in research and communication to act as an academic representative of our country
at a scientific meeting im just focused on my research he said under this program i also have to communicate the values that allowed me to come to this country and become a member of this society do my work and be able to get this award
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
researchers at texas a&m have developed a tool called hgbenviroscreen that makes data reporting environmental and social risks more accessible to community members and community-based organizations (cbos)
published in the international journal of environmental and public health this project is a collaboration with north carolina state university and the environmental defense fund the project team led by dr weihsueh chiu a professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) created the online tool to serve the houston-galveston-brazoria (hgb) region in integrating and visualizing national and local data on environmental health to address regional concerns
the project is part of the texas a&m superfund research centers five-year $10 million grant from the national institute of environmental health sciences (niehs) that is comprehensively evaluating the complexities of hazardous chemical exposures potential adverse health impacts and potential hazards of exposures to complex mixtures through a series of multi-disciplinary projects that derive from a case study utilizing galveston bay and the houston ship channel
historically disadvantaged communities are often subject to higher environmental risks resulting from both industrial and natural impacts these communities are also less likely to have access to data that evaluates the scope and extent of these risks
one of the issues is that communities dont have good access to data even if its freely available chiu said they dont know how to collect it how to organize it and how to visualize it in a way that that can be meaningful to help them to advocate for themselves
hgbenviroscreen compiles data from five key categoriessocial vulnerability baseline health environmental exposures and risks environmental sources and floodingto create a comprehensive evaluation that can be easily accessed and understood by community members and cbos the tool then visualizes the data for each census tract in a pie chart-like graphic known as toxpi while also providing an overall score of community vulnerability
existing tools do make some of this data publicly available but either each metric is displayed on a separate screen or only the overall score is shown making it difficult for individuals unaccustomed to the environmental justice field to see how different elements of environmental health fit together
this tool can help communities develop action plans as to how theyre either asking the municipalities for better services or working with the local businesses and industry to make sure that their community is not being overly exposed chiu said
chiu hopes that this tool will act as an initial screen to point out which specific concerns a community should focus on first equipping community action groups with not only the data they need to identify problems but also a platform on which to interpret this data creates increased accessibility that allows nonspecialists to become involved in the conversation of their communitys health
this information drawn from 1 090 census tracts in the hgb region includes common environmental justice concerns like social vulnerability and air pollution in addition to hgb-specific concerns like flooding and a large industrial presence
the multifaceted environmental vulnerabilities faced by the hgb region creates a perfect storm that puts the area at increased risk and hgbenviroscreen can help local authorities focus in on weaker areas to mitigate threats according to chiu
dr sharmila bhandari a postdoctoral researcher at the cvm who also contributed to this project sees tools such as hgbenviroscreen as important to the future of environmental justice movements she says that the information compiled by these tools can not only aid in planning future environmental initiatives but also to recovering from disasters after they occur
this tool can be really helpful to provide area-specific information to various stakeholders in order to inform how to better assess exposure and risk as well as how to reduce exposure during and after an emergency storm event
hgbenviroscreen is accessible to the public at https://hgbenviroscreenorg
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two graduate programs housed within the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) will take part in the new campus-wide initiative for maximizing student diversity (imsd) to increase recruitment and retention of doctor of philosophy (phd) students from underrepresented populations
the initiative created to enhance diversity in biomedical sciences is supported by a five-year $12 million grant from the national institute of general medical sciences one of the national institutes of health (nih)
imsd focuses on students in various phd degree programs that fall within the general field of biomedical sciences including the cvms biomedical sciences graduate program and the toxicology program under the interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology (ift) housed at the cvm
alongside the texas a&m office of graduate and professional studies (ogaps) an executive committee of six faculty members will help lead the initiative those representing the cvm and the ift include dr weihsueh chiu dr candice brinkmeyer-langford and university professor dr ivan rusyn
the initiative will provide 12 pre-doctoral trainees two for each program across campus with a training grant for their first year in a phd program allowing them to explore opportunities in a way they could not if they were funded solely by a research grant
because phd students do not yet receive research grant funding in their first year this funding will allow them to take the summer to do a nonacademic internship said chiu a professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) who will help connect imsd students with internship and externship opportunities
this type of internship and externship experience is very useful for them in figuring out what its really like out there after you get your phd because they can explore different sectors whether its government or industry or consulting or nonprofits earlier in their phd program he said
the texas a&m imsd will also bring together the selected students for regular boot camps that are designed to teach students skills they will need for the remainder of their doctoral journey such as how to publish a paper and write a grant these optional workshops led by brinkmeyer-langford will provide the opportunity to network with fellow students from underrepresented populations in similar fields of science
one of the objectives is to create a supportive community of underrepresented minority scholars because theyre coming from similar backgrounds said brinkmeyer-langford a research assistant professor in vibs some of these students may come from very difficult situations one of the objectives is to create a community whereby they can support each other
we want to show people that were welcoming to people of diverse backgrounds; we have a community for them she said
unfortunately many students pursuing phd degrees leave programs before they finish either because of financial or personal reasons
if we build a good foundation theyre less likely to leave early chiu said we want to make sure that the potential non-financial reasons for leavingthat theyre not supported or they feel isolatedarent an impediment to them completing their degree
as students go through their first year of study with the support system and financial backing from imsd the hope is that they will enter the following years with the tools they need to succeed
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
since making her first contribution to the small animal hospital in honor of an aggie veterinarian janel griffey has decided to help other pets receive the same quality of care her dogs have received by establishing emmas fund
janel griffey is not an aggie but texas a&m has her heart
her connection to the university hinges upon the love she has for the aggie veterinarians and veterinarians-in-training who have treated her family of dogs during the last decade and a half
for years griffey has been a loyal client of dr robert judd 79 her veterinarian in waco it was through her interactions with judd that griffey saw the power of the aggie spirit and experienced the true selfless service that texas a&m has imparted in all its graduates
when judd referred griffey to texas a&m for her dogs griffey knew that she had found a unique and trustworthy place for her beloved companions she was impressed with the many students she met and has even tried to recruit a couple to move to waco and work with judd after graduation
because of the connections she has made griffey has become one of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) most generous supporters
griffeys first gift to the college was a donation of two comfort rooms to the small animal hospital (sah) which provide hospital clients a home-like environment to reflect on their pets medical options and for those who face the pain of saying goodbye a quiet peaceful place to spend their final moments with their beloved pet
mollys room was named for griffeys cherished dog a 5-pound poodle who stole her heart from the beginning
molly had over a dozen health problems but due to dr judds medical expertise she lived almost two years longer than expected griffey said id lost many pets before molly its always horrible but this time there were difficulties
griffey knew she needed to honor molly in a special way to make peace with her death
she also knew there was a need for another comfort room at the sah; hence mollys room was born in addition the room honors judd for his commitment to veterinary excellence and his exemplary care of griffeys pets
while at the sah discussing mollys room i decided to make an additional gift of a second comfort room in memory of my great-aunt emma griffey said the griffey gang room is adjacent to mollys room its name is a nod to the moniker given to the original eight dogs i had rescued from a local no-kill shelter when people saw us coming they called us the griffey gang and the name stuck!
griffeys great-aunt became the inspiration for a second gift to the cvm a year later she established emmas fund
emmas fund assists pet owners 60 years old or older who are on a fixed income and require additional support within the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) to afford their pets life-saving care to qualify the treatment must be performed at the vmth and the pet must have a good prognosis
my aunt loved all living creatures she would rescue baby birds or newborn squirrels found in her backyard and valiantly try to save their lives griffey said when finishing a meal at a restaurant she never left an uneaten dinner roll or scrap of food instead she placed the leftovers into a plastic bag kept in her ‘pocketbook just for the purpose of carrying little tidbits to the parking lot to be placed on the grass for ‘some poor bird or animal looking for food
griffey recalls emmas home which was never without a few stray cats and dogs tenderly cared for by her aunt
she is the one from whom i learned that all creatures deserved to be loved not just the pampered and pretty ones griffey said
emmas fund has also helped with the vmths meals on wheels pets assisting the lives of seniors (pals) program which allows veterinary students to make home visits to meals on wheels recipients to provide preventative care to their pets
i love talking with senior citizens griffey said their stories are rich and vibrant and if you take the time to listen theres much you can learn from them! aunt emma and i had many long phone conversations im sure one of her pets was on her lap the whole time being petted
often the only companions our senior citizens have is their pet that pet is their entire world to them she said it hurts my soul to think some little old lady or man would have to euthanize an animal because they lack funds for medical care i need only to think of aunt emma or my best friend both on fixed incomes what would they do it was a no-brainer for me to establish emmas fund!
to ensure her generosity continues after her lifetime griffey has also left provisions in her estate to support the cvm her gifts will permanently endow emmas fund and provide endowed support for the cvms shelter medicine program she also has ensured that all of her dogs will have a home in the stevenson companion animal life-care center after her lifetime
griffey credits her father for her ability to make these contributions to support the causes about which she is passionate
my father was a self-made man he was born to a dirt- poor tobacco farmer in tennessee he had a third-grade education and by age 13 he held his first job as short-order cook he died a multi-millionaire griffey said i didnt live with my father but he blessed me by sharing part of his estate with me
i didnt work for this money so its not mine to waste i want to make sure that when i am no longer here my dads money still benefits others thats why my animals will live at the stevenson center and my entire estate will be donated to the cvm and the sah
to support further innovations in veterinary medicine please contact chastity carrigan assistant vice president for development for the cvm at ccarrigan@txamfoundationcom or 9798459043
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m center for teaching excellence (cte) awarded two texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) faculty members with the inaugural provost academic professional track teaching excellence awards
dr virginia fajt clinical professor and dr shannon washburn clinical associate professor both from the cvms department of veterinary physiology and pharmacology (vtpp) were recognized during an award luncheon on feb 27
this new award honors 10 academic professional track (apt) faculty who give students meaningful educational experiences through effective teaching methods and celebrate those who value student-centered learning
the provost apt faculty teaching excellence scholars will receive a $5 000 cash stipend gifted by the marie m and james h galloway foundation
i am honored to be one of two awardees from our college fajt said i am excited that texas a&m is specifically acknowledging the major contributions of professional track faculty on this campus
it is gratifying to get good reviews of my teaching to hear how helpful my methods were in helping the students understand difficult concepts or to receive notice that a paper has been accepted for publication washburn said i am proud of the progress i have made in these areas and i am proud to receive this award recognizing my efforts
knowing that the work i do and the relationships i foster have a positive impact not only on individual people but also the profession i love is the most rewarding aspect of my job washburn said
fajt joined the cvm faculty in 2005 and has continued to fulfill a key role in research and understanding of the function of pharmaceutical use in the food animal industry both in the classroom and in the laboratory
the level of professionalism and educational expertise that dr fajt brings to her teaching and leadership activities at texas a&m university are extraordinary and carry over into every aspect of her professional life dr fajts nominator said
one of the projects fajt has been a part of is a three-year multi-institutional research project that includes researchers from texas a&m and cornell university fajt and other leaders in the field of veterinary medicine education have worked to develop a comprehensive online collection of educational resources on antimicrobial resistance these resources would be made available to veterinary education programs across the country as well as under-represented student populations within the texas a&m system
fajt also has earned several awards and recognitions including the montague-center for teaching excellence scholar texas veterinary medical association (tvma) faculty achievement award and in 2018 fajt was awarded the american association of bovine practitioners award of excellence
i respect and admire her and her work greatly and i now value her expertise as both a colleague and a friend a former student said i received a wonderful education at texas a&m and dr fajt remains one of my instructors of whom i was and remain most fond i am a better veterinarian for having learned from her and a better person for knowing her
washburns research focuses on both veterinary and human medicine with a specific concentration on fetal-maternal health as well as educational research on teaching and learning methodology
washburns commitment to teaching and providing quality educational experiences to students is not limited to the classrooms at texas a&m she has developed and published an online instructional module that demonstrates the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland axis which has been made available to other academic institutions
her work ethic and commitment to excellence in education are unparalleled in my view one colleague said
washburn has also received the john h milliff teaching award afs college level distinguished teaching award texas veterinary medical association outstanding research scientist award and others recognizing her outstanding scientific and teaching achievements
dr shannon washburn is more than a teacher to me and referring to her as such is somewhat of an insult a former student said about dr washburns commitment to being more than an educator indeed she is an amazing teacher but more importantly she was there when i needed a friend and family
she is an advocate for the student and my class will always be grateful for how hard she worked for us the former student continued she gave us everything she had to make us better veterinarians
washburn says she is most inspired by the feedback she receives from her students and how she is able to support them when she sees them succeed and finally walk the stage at graduation
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
cc the worlds first cloned cat has passed away at the age of 18 after being diagnosed with kidney failure
cc short for copy cat passed away on march 3 in college station the same place where her life began as a result of groundbreaking cloning work done by texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) researchers
cc was born on dec 22 2001 and was adopted by dr duane kraemer a senior professor in the colleges reproduction sciences laboratory and his wife shirley six months after her birth
we in the cvm are saddened by the passing of cc as the first cloned cat cc advanced science by helping all in the scientific community understand that cloning can be effective in producing a healthy animal said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m
while she lived a long normal and happy life cc was extraordinary in what she represented to the kraemers the cvm and science as a whole green said the entire cvm community mourns her loss as all at texas a&m cared deeply about her as a member of the aggie family and especially for the kraemers for whom cc was a beloved pet for 18 years
ccs story began with dr mark westhusin a cvm professor and the principal investigator of the missyplicity project a $37 million effort to clone a mixed-breed dog named missy that was owned by john sperling founder of the university of phoenix
when the news of this project spread people around the country became interested in saving pets tissues that could possibly be used for cloning in the future this demand resulted in the establishment of genetic savings and clone (gsc) inc led by sperlings colleague lou hawthorne and dr charles long
while gsc became a bank for these tissues westhusin and his team at texas a&m began to explore the cloning of other pet species specifically cats
cc was produced using nuclear transfer of dna from cells that were derived from a female domestic shorthair named rainbow
once it was clear the nuclear transfer was successful kraemer and other scientists transferred the embryos into a surrogate mother who gave birth to a healthy kitten about two months later
though the cats were identical on a genetic level developmental factors led them to have slightly different coat patterns and color distributions
cc was the biggest story out of a&m ever and still is as far as international reach is concerned kraemer said every paper and magazine had pictures of her in it she was one of the biggest accomplishments of my career
ccs passing makes me reflect on my own life as much as hers westhusin said cloning now is becoming so common but it was incredible when it was beginning our work with cc was an important seed to plant to keep the science and the ideas and imagination moving forward
cc also became one of the first cloned cats to become a motherwhen cc was 5 years old she gave birth to three kittens that lived with cc for the rest of her life in a custom two-story cat house in the kraemers backyard
while cc represented a great advancement in genetic research to the kraemers she was also a beloved pet she will be missed by them especially but also by those at the cvm texas a&m and beyond who have followed her story since birth
cc was a great cat and a real joy kraemer said she was part of the family and very special to us we will miss her every day
throughout her lifetime cc regularly made news for her birth pregnancy and each birthday she proved to the world that cloned animals can live the same full healthy lives as non-cloned animals including being able to produce healthy offspring
before cc no pet had ever been successfully cloned with 100 percent genetic identity
the research that led to ccs birth kickstarted a global pet cloning industry led by viagen pets which today clones cats for $35 000 and dogs for $50 000
though cc was the first successfully cloned pet texas a&m has gone on to clone more species than any other institution in the world including horses pigs goats cattle and deer
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
through her dogs helping dogs laboratory dr unity jeffery studies common canine diseases to improve veterinary care in the future
if you ask for dr jeffery at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) youll need to be more specific dr nick jeffery and dr unity jeffery are a husband-and-wife team who both devote their lives to advancing animal health care at the cvm
an assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology unity jeffery utilizes her dogs helping dogs laboratory to better understand diagnose and treat common canine diseases
she got the idea while earning her phd at iowa state university
to get research funding small animal veterinarians typically have to focus on problems that overlap with human medicine she said dogs helping dogs focuses on problems that arent so interesting to funding agencies
at the moment shes working on some of the biggest problems a dog can haveheatstroke and a disease associated with it (and other conditions) called disseminated intravascular coagulation (dic)
heatstroke can occur quickly and is deadly in the majority of cases it is of particular concern for dogs with thick fur and short noses as well as those that are obese or have other medical conditions
dic is less well known to most dog lovers and occurs when numerous small blood clots form throughout the body in conjunction with a severe illness such as cancer sepsis and liver or kidney disease
about 150 dogs have provided blood for her studies so far healthy dogs mostly the pets of staff and students at the cvm provide control samples and others come from dogs that have been treated at the small animal hospital (sah)
the patients we work with today are teaching us how to improve future care jeffery said i am very grateful for the generosity of the owners and pets who participate in our studies and the technicians interns residents and clinicians who help make this possible
gathering data in these kinds of clinical studies takes much longer than in traditional experimental research but jeffery says the enrollment target for two studies was reached in june
im really excited to see the final results she said with one study were hoping to take a first step in developing new tests and therapies for dogs affected by heatstroke the other looks at how different fluid therapies affect the health of blood vessels which we hope will help us keep patients from developing dic
jefferys other main focus is to improve the accuracy of the tests given by veterinarians during an examination and the laboratory results of these tests
laboratory and point-of-care analyzers can be marketed to veterinarians even though they may not consistently provide accurate results she said laboratory accuracy is important to us because it is a major patient safety issue and we base so many of our diagnostic and treatment decisions on laboratory testing
several projects are underway or recently completed in one she and cvm emergency and critical care team member dr christine rutter worked with a couple of point-of-care instrument manufacturers to assess the performance of their analyzers in clinical patients in another she and clinical pathology resident carolina azevedo looked at how high blood lipid concentrations interfere with lab testing
one of the projects that im most excited about is a study involving data from the morris animal foundations golden retriever lifetime project jeffery said were using annual health check data from the dogs enrolled in this study to determine how much lab results vary in healthy dogs the results will help us determine if changes detected at annual wellness checks are clinically important or just normal fluctuations
jeffery expects some of these studies to have an immediate impact
i hope our fluid therapy study will help improve the standard of care of canine patients almost immediately after it is published she said others like the heatstroke study are chipping away at a really big problem it will probably be a few years before it pays off but without these initial studies well never improve survival for these patients
her colleagues understand the importance of this work
ive got great collaborators in the small animal hospital who take the time to enroll patients and collect samples even when their day-to-day clinical work is very demanding she said this is particularly true of our emergency and critical care service they deal with the most seriously ill patients in the hospital but they recognize that clinical research holds the key to improving care for their patients
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
college station texasthe texas a&m foundation has selected dr henry l sonny presnal 57 longtime director of the stevenson companion animal life-care center in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) as a recipient of its 2020 partner in philanthropy award presnal received the award for his lifelong devotion to texas a&m university and the stevenson center at a presentation on feb 27
the award was initially established by the foundations board of trustees in 2016 as the partner in philanthropy faculty award to celebrate faculty members who demonstrate dedicated and lasting participation commitment and creative leadership to philanthropy and texas a&m university recently the awards criteria were expanded to honor texas a&m staff members as well with the name amended to reflect the new criteria presnal is the first non-faculty member to receive the award
to be selected texas a&m faculty or staff must be nominated by a member of the texas a&m foundation development staff dr oj bubba woytek 64 assistant vice president of development and alumni relations for the cvm nominated presnal for the award
ive worked with sonny for most of my career and he is an invaluable member of our team and what we do at the cvm woytek said
dr presnal is the living embodiment of the aggie core value of selfless service added tyson voelkel 96 president of the texas a&m foundation were talking about a man who has spent the overwhelming majority of his life serving those around him serving his community and serving texas a&m however he could people like sonny make this university very special
in his 21 years as director of the stevenson center presnal has played a critical role in building philanthropic relationships for the center as well as for the cvm and texas a&m university at large he has also helped build the stevenson centers impressive endowment which now exceeds $20 million woytek added that presnal was directly and indirectly responsible for approximately $225 million in current endowments for the stevenson center as well as many more future endowments from the animals enrolled currently to enter the center in the future
you wont find someone more passionate about texas a&m and his work than dr presnal said otway denny 71 chairman of the foundations board of trustees he has seen the university evolve over half a century and he has remained a believer in its people and its mission the entire time you couldnt ask for a better ambassador for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and you couldnt ask for a more deserving recipient of this award
in addition to fostering private giving to the stevenson center and texas a&m presnal has also established a $50 000 planned gift in his will to create an endowed scholarship for students pursuing a doctor of veterinary medicine who are married and have children he supports texas a&m athletics through the 12th man foundation and local youths participating in 4-h club work furthermore he created an endowed aggie ring scholarship through the association of former students in honor of his late wife lou he plans to direct his $10 000 partner in philanthropy monetary award toward that endowment to fund more rings for future aggies
while im extremely honored i dont consider this award being for me specifically presnal said i look at it as an award for the stevenson center program and all of my staff and students for what they have done someone has to receive the award so thats my role but were all very appreciative of the recognition of the program by the texas a&m foundation
born and raised in bryan-college station presnal earned dual bachelors degrees in animal husbandry in 1957 and veterinary science in 1968 upon returning from his eight years of service in the us army he returned to texas a&m to earn a doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree in 1969 before establishing a private practice in bryan he was an organizing director and chairman of the board of a local bank from 1981 until 1997
presnal became director of the stevenson center in 1998 publicized as a retirement home for pets the stevenson center provides physical emotional and medical needs for companion animals whose owners are no longer able to provide them with care there are more than 650 animals enrolled to receive care from the center when their owners can no longer care for them additionally 109 animals have lived out their lives at the center while there are currently 29 animals living at the center
as an ambassador for the stevenson center presnal routinely travels throughout texas and other states to visit current and potential donors and conduct speaking engagements and presentations on the centers behalf when hes not traveling he still spends much of his time on weekly phone calls to donors updating them about developments to the center and staying in touch
stevenson companion animal life-care center
to learn more about the stevenson companion animal life-care center visit https://vetmedtamuedu/stevenson-center/
texas a&m foundation
the texas a&m foundation is a nonprofit organization that aspires to be among the most trusted philanthropies in higher education it builds a brighter future for texas a&m university one relationship at a time to learn more visit txamfoundationcom
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: dunae reader assistant director of marketing & communications texas a&m foundation (txamfoundationcom) (979) 845-7461; dreader@txamfoundationcom; jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m gastrointestinal laboratory has provided veterinary student marshal covin with opportunities to explore and expand upon his classroom studies
marshal covin a second-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) never expected a simple howdy to lead to countless opportunities for advancing his veterinary career
but after introducing himself and striking up a conversation with an unfamiliar staff member who turned out to be veterinary technician chanel reinertsen covin was encouraged to apply for jobs at the cvm and was soon employed at the gastrointestinal laboratory (gi lab) as a junior biomedical sciences major
for about a year or so i was a student worker there helping with service covin said veterinary clinics from around the world send fecal serum and other samples to the gi lab and id help them process it put it where its supposed to be answer phones and things like that
soon dr jörg steiner gi lab director distinguished professor and dr mark morris chair in small animal gastroenterology and nutrition noticed covins potential and requested his help on a research project they began to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction test to detect an especially elusive liver fluke called o viverrini a zoonotic parasite that can cause serious illness in animals and people
we extracted dna from adult specimens of o viverrini and chose a primer to target the gene we wanted but we were unsuccessful in getting sufficient amplification of the dna in our test covin said thus more work is needed on the project
after that project was put on hold covin was moved to the research sector of the gi lab and given his next project for which he used analytical validation to prove that two new protein tests were as effective as the older version that took a far greater amount of time to run these new tests detect c-reactive protein in dogs a common marker for inflammation from various causes including pancreatitis parvovirus infection and surgical trauma
these projects may help improve patient care for any clinic or lab that is looking to use either of these two tests to measure canine c-reactive protein covin said
i got two abstracts out of it which is really awesome he added i was fortunate enough to go to seattle and present the first one at the annual forum of the american college of veterinary internal medicine and then dr jonathan lidbury presented the second at the european college of veterinary internal medicine congress in rotterdam the netherlands in europe
covins current project with steiner involves studying blood serum to develop a new medication for wilsons disease a genetic disorder in people and dogs
its a copper-storage disease wherein people cant excrete copper so their liver ends up failing covin said the current medication for it takes a year to work this new one that were trying to work on takes potentially a week
though covin and steiner have only worked on a few projects together covin said it has been fantastic having the opportunity to work in the gi lab with cvm faculty members who enjoy mentoring students
i think were really fortunate here because we have such wonderful faculty who are willing to take us under their wings he said dr steiner has helped me in so many ways
covin even had the opportunity to travel to germany this summer with steiner and two other cvm veterinary students there they studied pigs in an effort to develop a new pancreatitis treatment for humans
besides the world-class mentorship i get from dr steiner and dr lidbury i also get a ton of help from other gi lab staff covin said our technicians phd students and supervisors are always eager to lend a helping hand which is one of the things i love the most about the gi lab
we definitely have a team-player mentality he said i can confidently say that none of my research would have been possible without their support and guidance
with three years left at the cvm covin has plenty of time to work on many more research projects with gi lab faculty and staff members as for now he finds his past and present research projects to have been a very interesting part of his time at the cvm
theyre all really cool he said i cant even pick a favorite each one has its own unique challenges
even though covin doesnt plan to go into research after graduation his experiences in the gi lab will be beneficial when he is working as a mixed-practice veterinarian
as a general practitioner having a background in research is really helpful because you can help enroll clients in clinical trials and keep up to date with the latest and greatest innovations covin said but at some point in the future i might absolutely go back to academics or research
with the years of practical experience and the multitude of contacts with world-renowned experts covin has gotten from his position in the gi lab who knows where the future will take him
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and the north american veterinary community (navc) invite members of the veterinary medicine community and emerging technology enthusiasts alike to the fourth annual veterinary innovation summit (vis) april 3-5 in college station
vis offers attendees a range of breakout workshops and ted-style presentations during which attendees will learn about various issues that challenge the field of veterinary medicine
activities will begin on friday at the texas a&m hotel and conference centers century ballroom including welcoming remarks from the first of two keynote speakers for the eventauthor speaker and independent adviser for professional firms and governmental entities richard susskind who will discuss technology and your future
saturdays and sundays activitiesheld at the cvms veterinary & biomedical education complex (vbec)will include presentations demonstrations and fresh perspectives from todays veterinary entrepreneurs
building on those presentations over the course of the three-day event there will be 10 different interactive breakout sessions that will give participants a chance to collaborate with their peers to solve complex issues that challenge the field of veterinary medicine with this format attendees will be able to curate their own schedule to fit the needs and interests for themselves and their teams
new this year the vis in partnership with the doris group will focus on finding solutions for four grand challengesthe healthcare team big data research and training
these grand challenges will be facilitated by the doris group a team of design researchers who specialize in high-energy engaging workshops that enable people to solve complex challenges which has developed a tool specifically for vis geared toward empowering attendees to produce many diverse solutions to the grand challenges facing veterinary medicine
as part of a three-hour grand challenges workshop participants will have the chance to contribute solutions to one of the grand challenges
we are excited to have the doris group join us for the fourth annual veterinary innovation summit said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m this group knows that the most innovative solutions come from creativity so they will use their design thinking methods to unleash out-of-the-box ideas making it fun for each group to think of the next amazing thing
on sunday following the viss second keynote presentationleadershipits not a problem its a system! by dr barbara kellerman the james mcgregor burns lecturer in public leadership from harvard universitythe entire conference will come back together with the doris group for grand challenges presentations and discussions
then attendees will choose a grand challenge they are interested in working on throughout the year and doris will provide guidance through planning how each idea can be developed
opportunities to network with others and discussion panels will also be provided throughout the weekend
for more information on this years vis visit veterinaryinnovationsummitcom
about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
one of only 31 colleges of veterinary medicine in the united states and canada the cvm was established in 1916 and since that time has graduated nearly 8 000 veterinarians texas aggie veterinarians proudly serve texas the nation and indeed the world in countless ways from highly sophisticated veterinary practices serving the 19 million residents of texas and their animals to military industrial government and university roles aggie veterinarians hold positions of prestige and responsibility the faculty and staff of the college are committed to exceptional teaching research and patient care the research addresses significant problems in both animal and human health which impacts both texas and the world
about the navc
founded in 1982 and headquartered in gainesville florida with offices in orlando florida the north american veterinary community (navc) is a non-profit organization that provides world-class professional development to the global veterinary healthcare community its largest initiative the annual vmx: veterinary meeting & expo formerly the navc conference hosts more than 17 000 attendees each year other offerings include vetfolio an online ce platform in conjunction with aaha; its official journals: todays veterinary business todays veterinary practice todays veterinary nurse and veterinary advantage; and educational event offerings: the navc institute navc live and navc discover visit navccom for more details
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr yava jones-hall an associate professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is leading in the field of veterinary medicine as the only veterinarian selected for crosstalks list of 100 inspiring black scientists in america
crosstalk is the official blog of cell press a leading publisher of more than 50 scientific journals across the life physical earth and health sciences
we are very happy to see one of our high-caliber faculty members being recognized for their outstanding work said dr carol a fierke texas a&m university provost and executive vice president
jones-hall is joined on the list by scientists from african afro-caribbean afro-latinx and african-american backgrounds ranging from assistant professors to department heads at universities across the country
it was surprising and amazing to be selected especially being a veterinarian jones-hall said it was nice to see veterinary medicine represented
the list of inspiring black scientists was created to encourage current and future generations of scientists and emphasize the importance of diversity in science crosstalk clarified that while there are many more than 100 black scientists in the us deserving of recognition the list was created to provide an example of the impact black scientists can have on america
diversity drives excellence in everything that we do as a team including biomedical education and research said dr ramesh vemulapalli vtpb department head we are very proud to have dr yava jones-hall on our faculty she is a great role model to minority students aspiring to pursue a career in veterinary medicine
i definitely see diversity in veterinary medicine as an important concept jones-hall said the reality is the world is not homogeneous we need our students to be exposed to working with different types of people to have cultural sensitivity and understand that not everybody is like you also once you have diversity within any program you get diverse ideas
while earning her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree at the tuskegee university college of veterinary medicine jones-hall was introduced to the field of pathologythe study of the causes and effects of diseaseand once she saw how seamlessly pathology combines with collaborative research she was hooked
as a veterinary pathologist im trained to understand disease in any organ in a multitude of species jones-hall said whatever field of research an investigators in i help them figure out how best a pathologist can tease out the data for them to see whats happening and how best to frame the research
considering herself a veterinary detective jones-hall helps researchers look at clues in cells and body tissues to find the best way for the research to progress working on a variety of research topics and never knowing what will come through the door next are what make the field of pathology so appealing to her
jones-hall joined the cvm from the purdue university college of veterinary medicine last august and as the director of the cvms histology laboratory began the project of creating a digital pathology program to increase the efficiency and accuracy of one of a pathologists typical jobsanalyzing slides of cells to count those of the same kind
traditionally pathologists would look at the slide under the microscope and give a subjective assessment of disease jones-hall said digital pathology augments traditional pathology by allowing the pathologist to use computer-generated algorithms to assess disease this gives objective quantifiable and repeatable results
whereas it would take me weeks to look at hundreds of slides i scan the slides to make a digital image and direct a computer program to find the cells of interest or disease state she said hundreds of slides can now be analyzed in hours instead of weeks
outside of the lab jones-hall donates much of her spare time to volunteering for community outreach efforts and taking any opportunity she can to promote stem careers and specifically veterinary medicine to disadvantaged youth
she is also a member of texas a&ms stride (strategies and tactics for recruiting to improve diversity and excellence) committee leading workshops for faculty members involved in faculty recruitment
diversity is important in general and its important to me so im willing to do more in order to improve the climate and increase everyones awareness she said
jones-hall hopes that her recognition from crosstalk can inspire others to spend their careers thinking not only of themselves but also those who may not have had the same advantages
the cvm is extremely proud of dr yava jones-hall for her accomplishments as an individual and as the only veterinarian to appear on the list of 100 inspiring black scientists said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m university (tamu) the work she does within and outside of the university will undoubtedly make a huge impact both for the college and within the community as she demonstrates the possibilities for budding scientists from all backgrounds
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as the newest exotic animal resident of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) winnie carter wildlife center kisa the lynx has found the purr-fect place to call home
the 11-year-old eurasian lynx came to texas a&ms wildlife center in february from a conservation breeding facility in arkansas because kisa (киса in russian means kitty) is now considered middle-aged she is retiring from conservation work and taking on the role of an ambassador species for texas a&ms wildlife center
she will be one of our educational animals; she will help teach students about the special routine care and feeding of exotic cats including preventative veterinary care said dr alice blue-mclendon director of the winnie carter wildlife center
the wildlife center also cares for two other species of small exotic cats a serval and three asian leopard cats so the addition of a lynx will increase the variety of learning opportunities for students and emphasize the differences between similar species
even though the management of the species might be very similar the animals behavior will be different blue-mclendon said the animals have different personalities even though they may be similar in size
kisas arrival also provided an opportunity for collaboration across colleges; soon after blue-mclendon knew she would need to build a habitat for kisa she reached out to dr josé fernández solís an associate instructional professor of construction science at the texas a&m college of architecture for help designing the perfect space
its really been fun to work with dr solís because he just loves students and he loves to have projects blue-mclendon said his input has been delightful and he has really understood that i wanted to do sustainable construction as best we could he drew up some plans for us and had all kinds of interesting ideas
as the vice president of architecture at lord aeck sargent a design firm headquartered in atlanta solís has experience designing exotic animal habitats from his work on a multilevel renovation and addition to the atlanta zoos orangutan habitat in 1996
no two wildlife projects are the same but all have a common themewhat is the natural habitat of the wildlife that can best be represented in a confined space solís said
for the winnie carter wildlife centers lynx enclosure project solís design was based on a close collaboration with blue-mclendon and dave goltz director of the college of architectures automated fabrication and design lab
we worked hand-in-hand to solve issues and develop alternative solutions that resulted in this new facility solís said vertical wire fence was embedded four to six inches into a steel reinforced-grade beam so neither the lynx nor any future exotic animal will be able to dig under
the collective interdisciplinary effort was very rewarding and interactive he said the design maximizes what a group of volunteer students could build with oversight from the wildlife center department of construction science and additional supervisors
the creation of kisas habitat was made possible thanks to the generosity of many who donated time money and resources from concrete to cedar logs most of the materials for the enclosure were freely given by people who wanted to support the wildlife centers goal to give kisa the best home possible
kisas finished enclosure is 2 000 square feet full of shelters climbing objects and several other forms of enrichment
one of the best enrichments is that she will have lots of people around all day long blue-mclendon said shes apparently been around humans her entire life and she likes the presence of people just providing lots of students to talk to her will be fantastic
enrichment coordinators the wildlife centers new volunteer student positions will be in charge of conducting research online and at other wildlife sanctuaries to find new ways to entertain kisa as time goes on
theyve already built one structure a cedar log with another log coming out at an angle and theyre going to hang a pvc toy from it thats wrapped in rope blue-mclendon said i got the idea for this after visiting another wildlife facility recently; their leopard had one and absolutely loved it
best of all kisa will have access to the best veterinary care from blue-mclendon and other talented specialists at the cvm using training and the benefits of her custom enclosure kisas veterinarians will be able to regularly examine her to monitor her weight and health
as kisa settles into her new home blue-mclendon and veterinary students at the wildlife center are looking forward to getting to know her and seeing her personality bloom
were excited its really fun to partner with people and get people excited about things blue-mclendon said its been fun to interact with lots of different people who understand the mission of providing sanctuary for an animal for the rest of its life and allowing students to get exposure to things that they normally could not on a college campus
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
researchers at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) have been working for years to study the connection between canine and human gliomas
in the most thorough examination of canine gliomas to date the teamworking in collaboration with the jackson laboratory for genomic medicine in farmington connecticut and the md anderson cancer centerhas now identified similarities between canine and human gliomas that may also allow researchers to use the knowledge we have on human gliomas in the treatment and research of canine gliomas and vice versa
dr beth boudreau an assistant professor of neurology at the cvm and colleagues worked to examine the glioma cells at a molecular level analyzing the genetic material of diseased tissues in humans and dogs to determine which genes are present and when which genes are used and how the cell regulates use of these genes
what they found was that molecular similarities exist between canine gliomas and human pediatric gliomas that suggest the two diseases follow similar cancer-causing mutational processes
the knowledge of how a diseased cell is operating at a genetic level also will allow researchers to better understand how to interrupt the disease processes of gliomas and develop new treatment options
this study is the largest canine genomic dataset thats been collected and analyzed boudreau said the reason thats important is that it gives us the best picture at a genomic level of how these tumors work and how they relate to similar human tumors
canine gliomas are a form of cancer affecting the glial cells of the brain or spine of a dog these tumors lack a distinct boundary between tumor and healthy tissue which makes them notoriously difficult to remove surgically
gliomas are the second most common type of brain cancer in dogs and have a poor prognosis; with symptomatic therapy the average survival time is just a few months
boudreaus research aimed to create a molecular profile of canine glioma and compare this data to the molecular profiles of human pediatric and adult gliomas the profiles included an analysis of which versions of genes are present and when which genes are used and how the cell regulates use of these genes
overall our goal was trying to figure out if we could leverage all of the information we know about human tumors to be able to treat our dogs better boudreau said
the study found that canine gliomas and human pediatric gliomas share alterations to multiple cell pathways genes and pieces of cellular machinery these and other similarities suggest that both canine gliomas and human pediatric gliomas might have similar cancer-causing alterations and similar timelines of when these cancer-causing alterations occur
were trying to figure out what cells are there and what they are doing boudreau said are they active or inactive how many of them are there when did they go there what called them thats the information that we need to design a sensible clinical trial
the study published in cancer cell was also co-authored by cvm faculty dr brian porter and dr jonathan levine as well as collaborators from the jackson laboratory for genomic medicine
this further knowledge of the nature of canine gliomas is not only a step toward developing new treatments for these cancers in dogs but may also allow clinicians to apply knowledge of human pediatric gliomas to the treatment and research of canine gliomas and vice versa
boudreau is optimistic that this expansion of applicable knowledge will be useful in improving the prognosis of affected dogs
to me the most important thing is to try to find a way to make this information into something that helps us treat these tumors better in dogs she said
this project is part of a larger collaboration between the world-renowned md anderson cancer center and the cvm though this project has culminated to a published paper other ongoing studies at the cvm continue to investigate the molecular basis of cancers in hopes of gaining knowledge and creating new and better treatment options
the future of md anderson working with texas a&m to do comparative genomic research between dogs and people is absolutely not done boudreau said this research is very modular; there are so many other tumor types that we could apply this strategy to im really excited for the future
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as veterinary students prepare for the 27th annual veterinary school open house at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) anticipation is building among local animal lovers of all ages
from 9 am to 4 pm on saturday march 28 members of the public will be welcomed into the cvms veterinary & biomedical education complex (vbec) small animal hospital (sah) and large animal hospital (lah) for a fun day of free activities
along with the chance to meet 50 different species of animals open house attendees can expect many unique experiences including teddy bear surgery bryan police dog demonstrations and a visit from the houston mounted patrol
in the main hall of the vbecs veni building groups including the winnie carter wildlife center the texas veterinary medical foundation (tvmf) and the student organization aggies fostering hope will be hosting informational booths to introduce the public to their causes
this hall will also feature animal-themed artwork by children and teens in kindergarten through 12th grade from across the country
attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the first lady of aggieland miss reveille
throughout the day visitors can learn about some of the many hospital services and innovative treatments offered to patients of the texas a&m small and large animal hospitals during educational tours and demonstrations all organized and run by veterinary student volunteers
the sah will offer three tour options for which guests can pre-register though pre-registration is not required it is recommended as the spots are filled on a first-come first-served basis to pre-register for a tour email ohsahcoordinators@cvmtamuedu with a name the number of adults/children in the group and what time the group would like to tour
walk ups will also be welcome for both the sah and lah tours with spots being filled on a first-come first-served basis
the first veterinary school open house was held in 1993 and has grown to serve an average of 8 000 attendees each year open house relies solely on volunteer efforts and is made possible by the planning of a team of dedicated student officers
more than 80 veterinary students work year-round to coordinate all of the different exhibits and demonstrations for this one exciting day said open house co-director stephanie hill a third-year veterinary student it is truly a collaborative effort that wouldnt be possible without the passion our classmates have for our profession and for giving back to the next generation of aggie veterinarians
we love this event as we get to connect with our community and show them why we love veterinary medicine and this college said tori chambers open house co-director and third-year veterinary student
from a puppy kissing booth to a veterinary student q&a the veterinary school open house has something to offer for everyone
for more information about the event including frequently asked questions visit vetmedtamuedu/openhouse or follow the event on facebook instagram and twitter for updates and announcements
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) has been recertified as a level ii emergency and critical care facility by the veterinary emergency & critical care society (veccs) for its dedication to providing the best care possible for emergency patients
by recognizing hospitals that meet and exceed the minimum standards and guidelines published the veccs hopes to raise the standard of care while also increasing public and professional awareness in the area of veterinary emergency and critical patient care
the vmths emergency & critical care (ecc) service was designated as level ii for exceeding the minimum requirements for certification under veccs and being open to patients 24 hours a day seven days a week 365 days a year
this is a nice way to display the dedication and level of training that we provide through the emergency service here at tamu said dr christine rutter a cvm clinical assistant professor and head of the small animal hospital (sah) intensive care unit (icu) it acknowledges that our team is in a category with some of the best hospitals in the country
level ii facilities are required to have a dedicated surgical preparation area and keep in stock items such as canine and feline packed red blood cells central venous catheters and several medications used in emergency situations
in addition the facility must be able to provide nutritional support both directly to the gut and through the blood stream and consult with a diplomate of the american college of veterinary radiology for the review of diagnostic images when necessary
by meeting all these requirements the vmth ensures that the emergency service and icu have all supplies and staff necessary to give patients every chance at recovery the certification also represents the vmths commitment to a positive environment and team approach
i think the best part about bringing your pet to the texas a&m emergency & critical care service is that we use a team approach to health care rutter said you arent just getting the experience and care of the doctor you see; you are getting the care and expertise of a huge technician team and access to a wide variety of specialists who provide the most complete care possible for your pet
texas a&ms vmth will display the veccs certified facility logo for the next two years after which recertification will be necessary to remain a level ii facility
i think its great that veccs has found a way to identify practices based on the service and care they are able to provide rutter said our ecc team worked very hard to get the application and certification materials together its a huge effort but its worth it to be able to show people who we are
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr jonathan levine head of the small animal clinical sciences department shares his perspective on how the small animal hospital has changed what makes it great and his vision for the future
story by jennifer gauntt
the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) is all about the animals but as head of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal clinical sciences (vscs) department dr jonathan levine is all about the people
levine a professor of neurology and the helen mcwhorter chair of vscs works to ensure that the small animal hospital (sah) maintains its three core functionsleading-edge patient and client care innovative teaching and clinical researchby taking care of both the people who provide those services and the clients who entrust the sah with the care of their beloved pets
im proud of our people everybodyfrom the technical staff to our faculty to our interns and residentsdoes amazing amazing work and to be part of all they do is a real gift levine said our job is to support people; we want to help them to be the best and that feeds into our clients our research and really everything we do
as the vscs leader for the past four years levine has emphasized the importance of listening accepting both positive and negative feedback and offering compassion hes also sought the guidance of psychologists and social workers to create a climate that values mindfulness and the general wellbeing of his employees
at the same time the sah has experienced massive growth in energetic clinicians and specialty areas that have allowed the hospital to expand their advanced services
look at oncology levine said in 2015 we had one radiation oncologist two board-certified oncologists and a couple of residents today that group has grown into a comprehensive oncology service that provides each client with integrated expertise from surgeons medical oncologists and radiation oncologists the number of cases coming in has exploded in that area and a lot of them are referred to us by other specialists
through his listening approach the hospital also has begun to identify areas within its 16 specialty serviceswhich range from emergency medicine to dentistry to ophthalmology diagnostic imaging and sports medicine & rehabilitationwhere workflow can be improved
everyone who works in the sah knows we can improve how we see patients and deliver care he said although focusing on processes is not the most exciting work we believe that when we get workflow right it makes peoples lives better whether its our clients our patients or the people who are doing the day-to-day clinical work and we want to do that
intricately linked to the missions of patient care teaching and research are the top-tier clinicians who are dedicated to the values of innovation and discovery
this has been facilitated by supporting investigators such as kate creevy an associate professor of small animal internal medicine who recently received a $22-million national institutes of aging grant for her dog aging project a long-term study designed to understand how genes lifestyle and environment influence aging
the discoveries clinician-scientists like creevy will make will not only impact veterinary medicine but human medicine as well external collaborations between sah clinicians and those at baylor college of medicine and md anderson further emphasize that point
theres a tremendous opportunity for teaching hospitals to be innovation engines and places where new meaningful discoveries blend with excellent patient/client care levine said what does that look like it looks like clinical trials that are done with human health care partners wherein everything from cancer drugs to cardioprotective drugs to new ways to battle arthritis are approached in animals with the hope for future changes to human health care
it also can look like new cardiac devices that have already been used in human medicine making their way into veterinary medicine he said our teams have been among the pioneers for generating everything from implants to procedures that are changing lives
his dedication to thinking about the sah as an innovation hub has been a game changer for the hospital while also representing the future of veterinary medicine
the telehealth program that were embarking on is like being on a ship and theres this distant land far away we know how valuable it is in human medicine and weve seen parts of it in veterinary medicine with teleradiology for example levine said
now theres this opportunity through change in the profession to look at how we deliver the vmth into someones house thats incredible to have internationally recognized experts primary care clinicians and er docs talking with either an established client or a new client he said how do you get a practitioner whos living in rural oklahoma or houston or west texas access to a dermatologist if that clinician can virtually be in an exam room receive digital images at texas a&m and talk with clients live its a game changer
while whats on the horizon for veterinary medicine is exciting making those things accessible will have the biggest impact on both the patient and the client in whom hospital clinicians students and staff regularly witness the profundity of the human-animal bond
everything we do ultimately impacts individuals were able to deliver excellent care because the environment in the hospital is right because the values are aligned because weve helped innovate care weve built it levine said
when all our arrows are pointing in the right direction the outcomes are great for clients our clients are treated kindly and respectfully and are listened to because thats modeled throughout our organization
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
veterinary residents often endure long challenging days but dr whitney hinson is grateful for the opportunity to hone her surgical skills at texas a&mand save lives while doing it
veterinary residents at the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) spend their days seeing appointments providing treatments to patients and communicating with clients they work long hours and weekends teaching students while still learning new things every day
according to dr whitney hinson a small animal surgery resident at the sah the hard work is worth it especially when she can make a difference and save an animals life
veterinary students have the option to go straight to general practice after graduation but hinson recommends they consider a rotating internship to get more training and experience in the first year out of school residencies typically last at least three years and allow veterinarians to focus their time on a specialty similar to human medicine residencies
youre really getting more and more exposure to a variety of cases and how to adapt based on individual patient circumstances hinson said i feel like thats probably the biggest thing with residency its just getting that extra clinical experience immersing yourself in a specialty and learning from the experiences of your mentors and peers
we learn to manage complicated cases and develop strategies moving forward to give the best care and outcome possible for all of our patients she said its a daily learning experience
as a surgical resident hinsons schedule switches between days receiving patients and days performing surgery
the surgical caseload at the sah is diverseincluding orthopedic soft tissue oncologic and neurosurgery caseswhich is ideal for training surgical residents because it provides exposure to a variety of surgical training in the limited amount of time they have in a residency
residents also spend time on call for cases requiring emergency surgery after hours on weekdays and on weekends
exposure to emergency cases and rotating through multiple services in the hospital allows surgery residents to become well-rounded clinicians and not just skilled surgeons hinson said
teaching is also a big part of her job as a resident and hinson tries to challenge her students to become independent thinkers and problem solvers as soon as possible to prepare for their future
knowing that our students become our referring veterinarians we also try to encourage a sense of collegiality among them in the hopes that they will always feel comfortable referring patients in the future hinson said
as she enters her third clinical year of residency hinson is now working toward becoming a board-certified specialist or diplomate in small animal surgery she hopes that her training and experience with advanced surgeries will allow her to be a resource for other veterinarians in the future
hinson first considered a career in medicine when she was a teenager but she quickly realized that she would prefer to treat animals rather than people
i wasnt really drawn to human medicine; i was more drawn to working with animals hinson said i used to watch ridiculous amounts of animal planet and that also kind of sparked my interest which developed into a passion for veterinary medicine
after shadowing some veterinarians in her hometown of statesboro georgia hinson decided that a veterinary career was the right path for her
she graduated from veterinary school at the university of georgia and immediately moved to college station to begin her veterinary career first completing a small animal rotating internship and then beginning a four-year residency in small animal surgery
her decision to be a surgeon was reaffirmed when she saw a case involving a husky in need of complicated lung surgery after considering many different treatment options hinson explained to the huskys owner that the surgery had several possible complications and that the lung condition could return
hinson said the huskys owner took several hours to think before finally deciding to take the risk with the surgery
after surgery the owner was so happy with her decision and that surgery had been an option for her dog hinson said she sent me an email and also sent me a card with the dogs picture in it one year later saying that he was doing better than ever
its days like those when i know i made the right choice with what i want to do with my life and its such a good feeling she said sometimes you lose a patient but thankfully more often you save someones pet and you give the owners months to years longer with their pet than they would have had otherwise
hinson has not yet decided where she wants to work when her residency is over but she said she has loved her time at the sah largely because of the people
everyone is really welcoming and thats one of the things that i really love about my program and just about the texas a&m hospital in general hinson said its the friendly dynamic collegiality progressive mentality and collaboration for the greater good of our patients that makes the sah such an amazing place to train
were also spoiled she said we have some of the most state-of-the-art equipment that we get to use to provide the highest level of care to our patients
while her future practice location is uncertain hinson already plans to see orthopedic soft tissue and neurosurgery cases following residency; all three she says are challenging and rewarding in their own ways
as i get closer to the end of my residency training i am comforted by the gratifying feeling that ive chosen the right career path for me hinson said despite the challenges of residency life i can honestly say im thankful for every day of my residency and am grateful for the opportunity ive been given to do what i love
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this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has become one of the first colleges in the country to provide students and faculty with both basic and advanced cpr training under the reassessment campaign on veterinary resuscitation (recover) initiative
the recover initiative the first standardized cpr training to offer certification through the american college of veterinary emergency and critical care (acvecc) was created in 2010 with the goal of developing and disseminating the first true evidence-based veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr) guidelines
the cvm chapter of the student veterinary emergency and critical care society (sveccs) hosted a recover cpr certification training on jan 18 to provide an opportunity for veterinarians and veterinary students to further their training on cpr techniques
here at a&m we offer both cpr certification levels which is a really unique opportunity said dr christine rutter a clinical assistant professor and sveccs faculty adviser were one of only a few places in the country that are able to use interactive simulators for the advanced class
the recover cpr training consists of online modules videos and quizzes followed by a six-hour day of hands-on practice with cpr simulators known as jerry dogs
you really learn the physiology behind cpr as well as how you can use that physiology to better adapt your technique or your strategies (for resuscitating an animal) said katie freeman a second-year veterinary student and sveccs treasurer it was very one-on-one the instructors were always there giving critiques or feedback
besides the physical motions of cpr the training also focused on the communication skills that are necessary to help maintain order in emergency situations
as a student being able to lead a team and learn how to actually walk through the steps and come across as appropriate and professional but also get done what needs to get done was one of the coolest things that i learned and why i think this course was so vital freeman said
two veterinarians from the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and 22 veterinary students attended the training which will be offered again at multiple conferences at the cvm this year
while the recover cpr training is not yet offered to the general public rutter hopes that it will become an option in the future
the hospital members who learn can teach everybody at the small animal hospital and then when we go off as veterinarians we can teach our technicians said alyssa gentry a third-year veterinary student and sveccs president it really spreads all the knowledge and raises the standard of care as far as cpr goes
though cpr is often portrayed in movies and tv shows as being successful nearly every time it is typically only effective 50 percent of the time for animal patients under anesthesia and 5 percent or less for patients not under anesthesia
with these techniques weve been learning our hope is to raise those numbers freeman said across the board everybody is going to experience an emergency case and should be equipped to perform cpr emergencies can happen at any time of the day at any point in your career its better to be prepared
theres so much of veterinary medicine thats hard for practitioners for owners and for the animals said lauren minner a second-year veterinary student and sveccs education coordinator cpr really is a thing where you can perform a miracle if you have your stuff together
the recover training also gives veterinary students the opportunity to build upon and practice the cpr training they receive as part of the cvms doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) curriculum before they enter the vmth for their fourth-year clinical rotations
the training these students have had is going to really help them when they come to clinics because the biggest thing i see whenever students see their first code (when a patient enters cardiac arrest) is that its a traumatic place to be rutter said rather than having a group of students who kind of stand against the wall and watch these students have already been in these simulated environments
if you do a good job in the right situation theres a chance you can get that pet home which is a miracle for that pet and that owner rutter said thats really what were all looking for for the ones you can save it means everything to that pet and that family
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr jan suchodolski never intended to spend his career at texas a&m but while continuing his education at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) he was introduced to a new and exciting discovery that changed the course of his career placing him on the cutting-edge of microbiome research
the research that dr jan suchodolski conducts at texas a&m may be confirming the age-old trope that all of our pets are specialor at least their digestive systems are
suchodolski an associate professor of gastroenterology in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and his associates are working to understand the microbiome of companion animals or the collection of bacteria living in the digestive systems of cats and dogs
while the microbiome has been thoroughly identified there is still a lot of room for discovery
its a very complex field; were still at the beginning of characterizing all of the different bacterial types and we still dont have the best methods available suchodolski said there are a trillion bacteria that are living in our gut; simply describing not only who they are but what they are doing we are still trying to understand that
suchodolski‘s research works to expand this knowledge including by looking at the effects of nutrition and treatments like antibiotics on this unique system
we understand the gut microbiota as a missing link; as we discover more and more about the microbiome weve recognized it as part of our physiology suchodolski said we have learned over the last few years that we have to see the host and microbiome as one unit for example there are some pathways that only microbiota take and those benefit us so you cannot really see the microbiome as an external thing its a part of the whole physiology
ultimately feeding and properly maintaining our gut microbiota is crucial; studies have shown that a lot of chronic diseases that we have examined are probably due to not taking care of our microbiota meaning we dont have the proper nutrition we dont have enough fiber usually in our diets he said the benefits of antibiotics in saving us from infectious diseases are huge but we also realize that the side effect of antibiotics is diminishing the microbiota so we need to be aware of the importance of gut bacteria
thinking of the microbiome as part of our physiology has opened the door to suchodolski exploring the ways the microbiome is implicated in different disease types beyond the gi tract just as it has in human medicine
a big area of research now is the gut-brain axis because if we manipulate certain populations of gut bacteria we can affect cognition and behavior he said there is now a commercial probiotic available that reduces anxiety in dogs
because of the many connections researchers have made between the microbiome of humans and animals suchodolski has also been able to examine procedures that have been successful in humanssuch as fecal transplantsfor animals
we have performed different studies and noticed that the success rate differs for various diseases; we see in some diseases especially acute or mild disease a very high success rate but in a chronic disease the success is lower he said and its not just as simple as changing the guts bacteria; were discovering that it also depends on other things like metabolic changes
the next step suchodolski said is building predictive models that will help his team determine which cases will benefit from treatments such as fecal transplants
to build a predictive model we have to determine what combinations of bacteria and their metabolites conjure the disease so you can predict better targets he said what weve discovered is that its not as simple as looking at the bacteria; we also need to look at what theyre doing so thats our future goal
with so many cutting-edge projects it seems that suchodolski was born to do research; however that wasnt always his plan
i always wanted to be a veterinarian he said my career as a researcher was kind of a coincidence but i simply love it every day there are new opportunities new ideas new exposures
suchodolski came to texas from austria as a veterinary graduate to complete a short-term credit program; he had planned to return to austria after his two years in texas but then he was offered the opportunity to complete a phd
he had begun studying abnormal bacterial populations in canine small intestines but during his first year of his phd program a paper looking at a new molecular method for studying the microbiome was published; this discovery had a significant impact on the field and wanting to be a part of something new and exciting he made the switch
that gave me the opportunity to develop this area because it was back then very novel suchodolski said i was able to be a part of really building this field and pretty much become an expert in this area
after completing his doctorate he decided to join the cvm faculty and hasnt looked back he said he is grateful for the opportunities that the cvm has allowed him and his research which ultimately works to provide better more individualized care to our pets
this a place that really has a culture of collaboration of making things happen he said
it is because of our collaborations that we have earned international recognition; our lab is probably considered the most successful lab of its kind this might not have been possible in other places but has happened here because a&ms culture is very supportive
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this story first appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

as head of the intensive care unit (icu) of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital (sah) dr christine rutter handles life-or-death situations every day but finds that she thrives on the pressure
sometimes a patients situation is so dire that theres not much choice regarding treatment
thats when dr christine rutter comes in
as a clinical assistant professor and head of the intensive care unit (icu) of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital (sah) she decides what to do in life-or-death situations
you dont have the time to ponder your options rutter said you have to look at the information you have right now decide what information you could get in the next 30 seconds and then make a decision
the icu is the heart of the sah probably its busiest division and certainly the one that has the most interaction with the other departments the faculty members keep an eye on all of the patients in the critical care unit and get involved when needed while also focusing on their own most-critical patients
you cant just rely on the stuff you learn in a book she said a lot of it is keeping cool and figuring out what to do when things dont work out the way they are supposed to our job is to turn things around it either goes great or we have to be ok knowing there was nothing more we could have done
she sees her job as communicating what we know what we need to find out and what options we have in a way the client can understand
we want to make the best decision for the pet and that looks different to different people she said five families with the same situation might have five different answers you have to have a very open mind and be a good listener as well as a good explainer you give them all of the available options in a way that is patient centered
making these decisions day after day can result in what she calls emotional whiplash
every day is different one minute were helping mrs jones let go of her 13-year-old pet who reminds her of her late husband she said we take the time and make sure we
communicate well with that person and then we go into the next room and switch gears to deal with a coughing puppy and figure out that all she needs is some antibiotics and shell be fine
while others might dislike the pressure she thrives on it
you have to have the type of personality that makes a go of it without getting burned out rutter said
rutter grew up in biloxi mississippi in a family with health care professionals and public servants her mother was a nursing professor for 30 years and her sister is a pediatrician
i like people well enough but i like animals a lot more she said its true that they bite and scratch sometimes but they come from a really pure place
after earning her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from mississippi state university she went into general practice in south florida before long she realized that her sickest patients were the ones she liked the most
my passion was helping people and pets who were in crisis or needed more thorough information or a second opinion she said i remember to this day the time i had to do a pericardiocentesis on a doberman pinscher where you take a needle and remove a fluid accumulation from around the heart it was something i had done one time in school by rare chance so i had seen it before
i diagnosed the dog with a pericardial effusion even though its not typical for this breed rutter said my boss walked in and said ‘what are you doing he had never done one before but the patient went from being pale and dying to looking pretty good even though he still had a serious disease
i realized then that this is what i love about medicine she said
this realization prompted her to complete an internship in emergency and critical care in louisville kentucky after which by some miracle she was accepted into a residency program at tufts university
she then took a job at a busy multi-specialty hospital in western pennsylvania but after six years she decided she wanted to teach and come back to the south
that led her to the cvm
rutter wasnt planning to take the job at texas a&m at first but that soon changed
i couldnt believe how much i liked it she said i got on the plane after my interview wishing i had realized what it would be like sooner because i didnt do as much preparation for the interview as i could have my attitude was ill go see what they have there but im not going to take the job
she celebrated her third year at the cvm on march 1
weve worked really hard to integrate the emergency and icu services into the other services she said
what clients see when they bring their pets to the emergency room is an emergency room doctor and their team working to care for or save their animals but behind the scenes the doctor is getting opinions from specialists throughout the hospital who give their time and expertise
thats something you dont find everywhere she said we truly are collegial the cardiologist or the neurologist is willing to come over but in the more competitive hospitals where everyone is competing for resources or promotions are on the line you dont have that hand-in-hand service like you do here at the cvm we truly are 100 percent about patient care
that doesnt mean that the specialists are always in agreement but rutter says the bottom line is always this: if this were my pet is that the decision i would make
rutter spends about 10 to 12 hours a day at the cvm starting at 7:30 am she admits that its often tiring and she sleeps when she can she and her residents work 10- to 12-hour shifts back to back
were often here over the weekend or after hours she said as the director of the icu i am often on the phone in the middle of the night with clinicians and specialists to help make the best decision for a pet
thats another factor that makes the cvm special
ive never worked anywhere where i could call up so many people at 11 pm to talk about a case she said you just dont find that at other places
rutter thinks that within the veterinary community those in emergency care have a reputation of being a jack of all trades and master of none thats not true she says
we are very good at rapidly identifying things that could be life limiting determining if an intervention is needed and preventing catastrophic problems rutter said if your pet cant breathe or his blood pressures low or he needs blood products or is facing something life threatening right now were here for you
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this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

dr deb zoran uses her work with texas a&m task force urban search and rescue dogs to study how different breeds have unique temperature ranges and how that impacts their ability to save lives
they are perhaps among the unsung heroes of the rescue world
the canine members of the texas a&m task force (tx-tf) urban search and rescue (sar) teams can do many things their human counterparts cant: their athletic frames and fearlessness allow them to squeeze into tight spaces their agility allows them to maneuver unstable surfaces and their exquisitely sensitive trained noses allow them to sniff out the missing (through microscopic molecules in your breath!) to a precision unthinkable for humans
the impact these dogs make cannot be denied but the work is incredibly dangerousthe nature of the job requires them to work in all environments and around many hazards
the most successful sar dogs are very highly driven; they do not make good pets they are the most intense creatures in the dog world said dr deb zoran a professor of small animal medicine in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal clinical sciences department (vscs)
when they and their handlers get deployed into a disaster the mission is to find save or recover missing people and they often have to go to work on a moments notice she said the first 48 to 72 hours are crucial in a disasterthats the critical timeframe you have to work inand you dont get to pick the circumstances
zoran pulls double duty as a member of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) and the team veterinarian for tx-tf 1 & 2 for the past 10 years her primary objective when training or deploying with either team is to keep these dogs healthy at peak performance and mission ready
to her the relationship between the sar dogs their handlers and the veterinarian is of the utmost importance because while theyre working during a disasterfrom wildfires to flooding responses and everything in betweensar dogs depend on both their handlers ability to recognize the tiniest differences in behavior or movement that may indicate injury and zoran to support them before during and after a mission
when they are deployed in our texas climate they are at particular risk of hyperthermia dehydration and many injuriesmuscle strains or trauma to their legs or foot padsas well as for interactions with snakes/scorpions fire ants and other hazards that can happen in the process zoran said
despite these hazards there are two recurring risks for the dogs as they work more or less year-round in the southern us and those are overheating and dehydration zoran said both impact the dogs ability to complete the search which then affects the teams ability to find that missing human; both also have a profound impact on the canine noses scenting function because dehydration in particular reduces the ability for noses to uptake odor while overheating makes the noses internal membranes dry out also reducing the ability to detect odor
a challenge each handler must face in the field is knowing how to spot when their dog may be getting too dehydrated or overheated as sar dogs work at an intensity that can be detrimental most handlers are not trained in animal care and it is not possible for zoran or the vet to be with each dog as it works in the field
so when zoran met dr marta lacolla the veterinary business manager of allflex usa and learned about their product suresense a microchip that had primarily been used for monitoring dairy cattle and cattle in feedlots zoran wondered if the product might be useful for sar teams
when marta approached me and said ‘we have developed a temperature-sensing microchip; weve been looking at it in shelter animals for the past year and were ready now to put it out in the field my answer was ‘absolutely zoran said they had not yet used the temperature microchip in many dogs but the concept was immediately interesting
as zoran saw it a temperature-sensing microchip would solve a lot of problems while she has taught handlers how to perform basic health checks on their dogs taking a rectal temperaturethe most common and accurate method to check temperaturein a working dog can be extremely challenging if not impossible in the field
finding new ways for handlers to monitor their sar dogs body temperatures has been one of zorans research interests over the past four years; she previously tried a thermistor capsule the dogs could swallow to measure temperature while they worked
allflex and zoran worked out an arrangement to provide free microchips and specially designed microchip readers to the sar teams and in return zoran developed a clinical trial protocol to collect temperature data compare that data between different chip methods and over time compare differences between work/rest cycles in training and deployments as well as different environmental conditions
it was a win-win situation for everyone involved
the whole idea behind the temp-sensing microchip and why it was powerful and valuable was because temperature monitoring by handlers essentially did not happen in the field; it was too hard to do she said with a suresense reader in their pocket the handlers can easily scan the area where the microchip was inserted and keep track of their dogs temperature in real time
for research purposes the captured data can be viewed through an app downloaded by the handler or directly uploaded to the cloud where it is sent to zoran and the allflex team by tracking temperatures in everything the dogs do zoran and allflex were able to start establishing baseline and working temperatures by breed sex coat type and other key variables
over time and with experience zoran has learned that each dogs temperature ranges are unique
some of these dogs have relatively narrow ranges of temperature excursion; others like many of our labradors really have wide ranges of temperature excursion she said for example at rest some of the labs will have a resting temperature of 100 degrees but as soon as they start work it will jump to 103 degrees and on hot days with as little as 20 or 25 minutes of intense search work they will have a temperature approaching 106 degrees
other dogs on the team with similar fitness levels and body conditions will top out at 104-105 degrees after that same amount of work and need to rest zoran said what does that mean are there wide temperature excursions in labradors because of genetics muscle mass diet
understanding the breed differences in working dogs is ultimately both a safety issue and a mission-success issue and allows zoran to give each sar dog more individualized care to better fit their capabilities
these readers have become exceedingly valuable zoran said the handlers and dogs can be out working during a deployment but we are still in contact by radio so they can tell me whats going on with their dogs and then we can adjust their work cycle based on this information
so far data have been collected from more than 40 dogs through three summer seasons and zoran will be working to publish a paper on the project soon
there are things that we dont understand about heat impacts on working dogs and this information could lead to the next generation of studies she said i see a lot of different opportunities to learn about these fascinating athletes in the future
the original goal of this project was to prove that the suresense microchip enhances our ability to monitor these dogs closely and have a better work plan that still keeps them in the field but allows us to intervene when we need to zoran said that comes from just getting a lot of data from many different dogs in different working conditions
to advance that idea the project is ongoing and in addition to the tx-tf canines zoran has recruited sar dogs from texas parks and wildlife and the local search dog network to be included in the project
a certified sar dog is one of the most valuable members on a search and rescue team for finding a missing person zoran said adding that whether they are searching to find a living person or working to give a family closure by finding a deceased person their value cannot be underestimated these dogs are pretty amazing animals and it is a true joy for me to work with both the handlers and dogs and to be a part of keeping these incredible teams on mission
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this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

alyssa meyers phd a postdoctoral research associate in the sarah a hamer laboratory at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been awarded the 2019 ethel ashworth-tsutsui memorial award for mentoring by the texas a&m organization women in science and engineering (wise)
this annual award recognizes women on campus who encourage and support texas a&m women graduate students meyers was nominated by dr sarah hamer cvm associate professor and director of the schubot center for avian health and past mentee megan ellis a fourth-year veterinary student at the colorado state college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences
hamer who has worked with meyers since 2015 noted meyers long history of mentoring including volunteering to teach science to rural high school students in ethiopia and formally mentoring 10 students nine of whom were female at texas a&m
the daily tasks of an undergrad in the lab may involve simple pipetting of dna samples into new tubes but alyssa makes the undergrads feel appreciated and become passionate about the bigger research questions and how their laboratory work was one small step in a bigger plan to improve human and animal health hamer said
alyssa worked long hours with several of her mentees to help them create abstracts to be accepted into an nih-funded summer program develop research proposals analyze data and develop both poster and oral presentations she said some of her proudest moments are when her mentees were recognized for their research excellence
meyers has also found a non-traditional way to provide mentorship through a panel she organizes to assist students planning to apply to the national science foundation (nsf) graduate research fellowship program having received this award herself she uses her experience to educate and prepare others
in all aspects of her work alyssa took deliberate steps to seek out mentees and provide others with meaningful experiences and guidance through both formal mentoring programs and informal initiatives she started hamer said
in addition hamer praises meyers ability to serve as a role model while balancing her career and her family after the birth of her son in jan 2019
as a postdoctoral associate alyssa now balances her babys needs and her research obligations to maintain a high level of productivity continuing to prioritize mentoring every step of the way hamer said balancing academic and family demands has further immersed alyssa as a role model to the many undergraduates and veterinary students we mentor as the next generation of female scientists
ellis worked under meyers in the hamer lab during the summer of 2017 as part of the veterinary medical student research training program (vmsrtp) to study the epidemiology of chagas disease
i have had other mentors since and before then but alyssas mentorship has been the most unique and strong of any i have experienced thus far ellis said she leads by example with her passion for research skill in the field and in the lab and ability as a strong communicator she allows her mentees space to attempt and succeed at new skills and in the event of a failure or an unexpected complication she is always helpful and treats it as a learning experience rather than a catastrophe
whenever i have questions about my path about any obstacles i have encountered or about how to move forward i have always felt that i could reach out to alyssa for advice and help she said in my eyes that is one of the most unique and compelling aspects of alyssas mentorship: that she remains connected to and invested in the success of her mentees she is a strong example of how one can use mentorship to truly empower and strengthen others
in the hamer lab meyers has made great contributions to the study of chagas disease by determining the impact that this disease can have on the us governments working dogs in south texas her seven published papers will be beneficial to the management of chagas disease in both veterinary and human medicine
meyers received $500 a certificate and a plaque at the 2020 ethel ashworth-tsutsui memorial lecture and awards ceremony on jan 17
the ethel ashworth-tsutsui memorial awards for research and mentoring honor dr ethel ashworth-tsutsui a longtime faculty member of texas a&ms biochemistry department who was a founding member of wise and cared deeply about the retention and recognition of women in graduate programs
wise is an organization of graduate students staff and faculty from various science and engineering backgrounds created to address specific problems faced by women in non-traditional fields
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university veterinarians collaborate to successfully operate on a double doodle with a rare tumor
when andrea streicher saw the photos of the curly-haired golden puppies a friend had sent her it was love at first sight her day had started off with a series of unfortunate eventsincluding a flat tirebut there in front of her was the antidote to all her doldrums
werner a double doodle with goldendoodle and labradoodle parents immediately joined the streicher household and proved himself to be a happy social and active dog
he could often be found running around a dog park in their hometown of austin donning silly costumes or funky bandannas that matched his personality because of werners excellent demeanor with children streicher aspired to train him as a therapy dog
we dyed his ears blue for his first birthday and i noticed when his ears were blue that little kids were so drawn to him streicher said we now keep his ears blue so that when he goes to schools to help with readings and stuff the kids will still be drawn to him
at just around 2 years of age werner started becoming lethargic and depressed and began having seizures
concerned streicher took him in to her local veterinarian where they found that werner had a huge rapidly growing skull tumor
when we first started having problems the tumor was probably the size of my thumbnail it was like a grape streicher recalled three weeks later it was almost the size of an egg
streicher met with several veterinarians who told her they had never seen such an aggressive tumor in such a young dog and they feared his tumor would be inoperable
of course the diagnosis came as a shock for streicher and her family
we waited 24 hours until i could talk with the neurologist and she basically said that it was huge she said it was super invasive she said our main objective should be to keep werner comfortable
despite the grim prognosis streicher wasnt about to give up on werner so she decided to take him to texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
i thought he wasnt going to survive and if i lost him i wanted his body to go to the veterinary students at texas a&m so that they could study him and learn from his disease streicher recalled
there the vmth team swiftly admitted werner for a ct scan and confirmed the tumor took up a significant portion of his skull and was compressing his brain
after the veterinary team spent some time analyzing werners case they gave streicher some news she didnt anticipate: they would be able to operate and attempt to remove the tumor werner would likely lose an eye and there was no guarantee of a successful surgery but the doctors were confident they could give werners case a shot
the next step before surgery was to perform a bone biopsy to confirm the specific type of cancer werner was suspected to have after about two weeks of waiting the biopsy results returned and confirmed that werners tumor was a multilobular tumor of bone
multilobular tumors are rare and there are no known predispositions to this particular type of cancer the tumors typically occur on flat bones and in canines the skull is the most common area they arise surgical removal of these tumors is tricky and it is often impossible to remove the tumors from the skull with clean margins
on oct 10 2018 when werner checked in for his surgery the vmth neurology and oncology teams had come up with an innovative solution
because of the amount of skull werner would lose in the operation his clinicians would need to find a way to rebuild his skull from scratch
dr michael deveau a clinical assistant professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and holder of the katherine and rebecca rochelle chair in oncology reviewed ct scans of healthy dogs to generate a new skull piece that would replace the excised portion of bone he collaborated with dr elizabeth scallan in the clinical skills laboratory to make a 3d print of the skull replacement pieces and to engineer a mold that could be used in the operating room
during surgery dr joseph mankin a clinical associate professor in the neurology service and dr maya krasnow a second-year resident in neurology filled the mold with a material called poly methyl methacrylate (pmma) a type of shatter-resistant plastic
the pmma hardened in minutes and readily created werners new skull beside them dr brandon wustefeld-janssens one of the vmths veterinary surgical oncologists removed werners right eye
after his eight-hour surgery werner faced a long recovery
the first night was rough streicher remembered im not going to liei wondered if i did the right thing if i kept him here for me or if i kept him here because it was the right thing to do
but after several nights of sleeping by werners side at home things started to look up werners original playful attitude started to shine through again so much so that he had to return to the vmth mid-recovery to have more stitches placed around his incision areas for security
i literally had to hide all the toys because we wouldnt throw them to him so he would throw the toys himself streicher said with a laugh
werners team is equally impressed with his recovery and credit collaboration for the success of his operation
when a client comes to an academic institution like the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital theyre typically coming because we offer strengths that other practices may not be able to provide deveau said we should be able to do things that nobody else can do and if there isnt an easily apparent way to do something then we can pool our resources put our heads together and have an outcome that may benefit patients like werner
streicher hopes to have werner certified as a therapy dog to help comfort children undergoing cancer treatment
he is just amazing streicher said the fact that hes still here is just a miracle he is werner the wonder dog
the streicher family is extremely grateful for the efforts made by the vmth team to save werners life specifically streicher said she credits texas a&m with taking the chance for that she says she will always recommend the vmth for quality veterinary care
if you need any care that goes above and beyond just go to texas a&m just do it you wont be sorry she said
at the end of february streicher brought werner back to college station but as a guest of honor instead of a patient
werners story was showcased as one of four exhibits at the texas a&m foundations exploration day which provided immersive experiences for top university donors from disciplines across campus
werner appeared on stage as the grand finale of the colleges exhibit and received a standing ovation
as a tribute to the team that saved his life werner wore a 12th man jersey while his famous blue ears were dyed maroon to honor the aggies who never gave up on saving his life
to support further innovations in veterinary medicine please contact chastity carrigan assistant vice president for development for the cvm at ccarrigan@txamfoundationcom or 9798459043
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
additional funding will support the increased faculty needed for veros 2+2 program
canyon jan 28 2020officials from the texas a&m university system (tamus) announced on jan 28 a $5 million commitment to the developing 2+2 veterinary program through the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program on west texas a&m universitys (wt) campus
the additional funding from tamus will be used to increase faculty members from five to 23 for the vero program current faculty members were secured with the support of a legislative appropriations request by the texas education agency
the vero 2+2 program is a continuation of initiatives led by the tamus to support the state agriculture industry and the young people of texas in 2019 the system committed $90 million to the establishment of a 22 000-square-foot vero facility to house the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) curriculum and externship programs for the new clinical rotations in the texas panhandle as well as the 2+2 program the 2+2 program will allow texas a&m veterinary students to elect to spend their first two years in canyon on wts campus for increased exposure to large animal needs in rural communities
texas a&ms 100-year-old veterinary program is an established accredited route for students seeking their dvm degree walter v wendler president of wt said paired with wts prime location for the cattle industry with ample opportunities to work with large animals through extern- and internships is a recipe for a prosperous veterinary services industry in texas we are thrilled with the seamless collaboration between these two campuses and eager to be a part of educating texas a&m veterinary students on wts campus
the first cohort of fourth-year veterinary students will begin clinical rotations at the agricultural sciences complex on wts campus starting summer 2020 the first cohort of up to 18 first-year veterinary students will begin their dvm education at the vero in fall 2021
every year after there will be two cohorts at one time cycling through the canyon location before their third year at the cvm in college station with the option of returning to canyon a portion of their fourth-year clinical rotations
through our vero program texas a&m the cvm and wt are prioritizing the need for rural and food animal veterinarians needs that affect citizens of the texas panhandle and citizens in rural communities across the state said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m
our vero educational team led by dr dan posey is working to meet these needs by helping west texas a&m gather and mentor regional students to help them produce the best veterinary school application possible in just three and a half years under dr poseys leadership the number of successful veterinary college applications from west texas a&m has tripled green said the next step is to bring them back home to serve their hometowns in the texas panhandle region and the 2+2 program will be a key part of this critical next step
combining the power of the two campuses resources will expose students to unique diverse learning opportunities in a large state with some underserved regions faculty of the vero program encourage incoming students to engage locally and consider working in communities that have a greater need for a large animal veterinarian
we are pleased to expand our veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences program to the campus of west texas a&m university texas a&m president michael k young said
the increased funding will provide support and be of great benefit to all texans the 2+2 program will especially benefit large-animal care needs that are often isolated and will enhance the educational and medical care opportunities for rural texans
approval by the texas higher education coordinating board the texas a&m university system board of regents and the council of education of the american veterinary medical association to finalize the program is pending
for more information about the vero 2+2 program contact posey at dposey@wtamuedu
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media contacts: jennifer gauntt director cvm communications college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at texas a&m (979) 862-4216 jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; brittany castillo west texas a&m university (806) 651-2682 bcastillo@wtamuedu
faculty and staff at the texas a&m center for educational technologies work to enhance the doctor of veterinary medicine curriculum through active-learning activities that draw from actual small animal hospital cases
more than 140 texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) students sit in groups in a classroom as cardiology professor dr ashley saunders displays a case study on a large screen
a dog comes into a clinic exhibiting coughing issues after saunders presents the dogs history students pull up on their individual screens laboratory tests that were run
what will they do next
as each team types in their thoughts saunders can pull up a live report on her own device and see how her teams are responding in real time
by seeing students line of thinking dr saunders can more easily respond to misconceptions or misunderstandings and see if there is a need for further discussion on a topic said molly gonzales instructional assistant professor at the center for educational technologies (cet) if there are some groups that respond in an unexpected way she can turn the conversation to discuss what was missed what could be considered or why that might not have been the best course of treatment shes actively walking through the clinical process with them
through these clinical simulations students can test their knowledge and understanding in a low-risk environment where the only consequence for making a mistake is the opportunity to learn she said
this kind of exercise is indicative of the way the cet harnesses technology and the diverse expertise of faculty in the small animal hospital (sah) to create learning experiences for students (both here and across the country) that enhance critical thinking engage active learning and strive to establish more confident veterinary graduates
housed within the cvm since 2011 the cet has been supporting the creation of e-learning materials and tools that offer an innovative way for rethinking how professors deliver content and how students acquire knowledge
other examples include the creation of videos that show students how to perform procedures on life-like models using gopro cameras to observe students as they perform procedures and developing online activities that allow students to hone their knowledge of foundational veterinary skills such as identifying teeth in a variety of species
the cvm is home to hundreds of faculty and staff who dedicate their time to create an environment where a lifelong love of learning and passion for veterinary medicine are the norm gonzales said with new research and technology constantly advancing the field of veterinary medicine the college recognizes the importance of having a dynamic curriculum with immersive learning experiences that address the needs and challenges of the current veterinary landscape
the cet-created resources offer many advantages for dvm students; in addition to stemming from real hospital cases these resources integrate across the new dvm curriculum which allows students to better apply materials learned in their first year into their second and third years so that when they experience similar scenarios in their fourth-year clinical rotations they can more readily associate what theyre seeing with what they learned in the classroom
another advantage is that students can control the pace of their own education through individualized learning tools that can be accessed at any time
modules are designed so the students can control their own education by getting involved and making decisions on their own said dr jordan tayce cet instructional assistant professor for example with our adaptive case studies students go through a series of scenarios and their performance dictates the next case that is unlocked so if a student needs more practice they have the opportunity to do so but if the student excels then fantastic they could move on to the next thing
these tools have become so valued at texas a&m that faculty at more than half of the veterinary schools across the country also license them to augment their own curricula; in addition the cet has made some of its 170 educational resources available for continuing education purposes through partnerships with vetfolio and texas a&ms continuing & professional education (cped) platform
there are not a lot of other veterinary schools that have units like ours tayce said veterinarians are not trained to teach; theyre trained to be veterinarians we offer that lens of the teaching perspective for faculty and for students we offer students the opportunity to learn and think in ways that are different from the ‘traditional way of learning what were doing is research based and it works in practice
importantly these resources also align with the new association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) competency-based veterinary education (cbve) framework the cbve has challenged veterinary schools across the country to reassess whether their traditional teaching methods were preparing future generations to be practice-ready and if those methods truly equipped students with the necessary tools to deliver care across different clinical environments
this call to action from the association affirmed the need for the continued use and future development of immersive learning experiences that engage learners in critically thinking through a problem and making informed decisions that lead to the appropriate diagnosis and course of treatment for patients gonzales said this call also challenged us to see how we can provide immersive learning experiences to our former students and practicing veterinarians
luckily for both practicing and budding veterinarians the cet is here to answer that call
to access the catalog of cped courses visit https://txag/cetcped and to learn more about the center for educational technologies visit http://wwwtamucetorg
washington dc january 27 2020 ­– the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) has named dr eleanor green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m university (tamu) as the recipient of the 2020 aavmc billy e hooper award for distinguished service the award is sponsored this year by the stanton foundation
the award is presented by the aavmc to an individual whose leadership and vision has made a significant contribution to academic veterinary medicine and the veterinary profession the billy e hooper award for distinguished service will be presented during the aavmcs 2020 annual conference and iverson bell symposium march 6-8 2020 at the hyatt regency washington on capitol hill in washington dc
every day educators and researchers at our member institutions make outstanding contributions to academic veterinary medicine that inspire others contribute to medical breakthroughs and work to educate upcoming generations of veterinarians said aavmc chief executive officer dr andrew t maccabe we are pleased to honor these extraordinary individuals through our awards program and look forward to recognizing their achievements during our 2020 annual conference
dr green has a special interest in the future of veterinary medicine and the innovations that will help ensure a thriving profession she was recently named a senior advisor and consultant for the animal policy group in washington dc and will complete her tenure as dean in june 2020
i can attest to the fact that dean greens administrative record at tamu is one of sustained leadership and service that is perhaps unmatched in the more than 100-year history of the cvm in terms of both inclusiveness and effectiveness said dr kenita rogers tamus executive associate dean and director for diversity and inclusion she has brought about positive enduring change to our college university and profession
dr green became dean at tamu in 2009 and oversaw many ambitious projects at the college including construction of the veterinary & biomedical education complex establishment of the center for educational technologies office of innovation and entrepreneurship global one health and equine initiatives she also developed inter-university partnerships designed to increase the number of dvm graduates and address issues facing food animal and rural practice veterinary medicine in texas
her academic appointments have included: equine faculty member at university of missouri; head of the department of large animal clinical sciences and director of the large animal hospital at the university of tennessee; chair of the department of large animal clinical sciences and the chief of staff of the large animal hospital at the university of florida
she is a diplomate of the american college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) large animal and the american board of veterinary practitioners (abvp) certified in equine practice
dr green received her bs in animal science from the university of florida and a doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) from auburn university she established a veterinary practice in mississippi as partner/owner she became a founding faculty member of the college of veterinary medicine at mississippi state university
she has served as president of four national organizations: the american association of equine practitioners (aaep) the american board of veterinary practitioners (abvp) the american association of veterinary clinicians (aavc) and the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc)
her awards include: 2004 award of distinction from the university of florida college of agriculture and life sciences 2011 wilford s bailey distinguished alumni award from auburn university 2012 women‘s progress award for administration induction into the national cowgirl hall of fame in 2013 2015 distinguished achievement award for administration at texas a&m university and 2020 bridge club veterinary industry icon
the member institutions of the association of american veterinary medical colleges (aavmc) promote and protect the health and wellbeing of people animals and the environment by advancing the profession of veterinary medicine and preparing new generations of veterinarians to meet the evolving needs of a changing world founded in 1966 the aavmc represents more than 40 000 faculty staff and students across the global academic veterinary medical community our member institutions include 53 council on education (coe) accredited veterinary medical colleges and schools in the united states canada mexico the caribbean europe asia australia and new zealand; as well as 23 provisional and collaborating members and departments of veterinary science and departments of comparative medicine in the us
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the spread of 2019-ncov commonly known as the novel coronavirus from china to at least 11 countries to date including the united states has led the disease and its growing impacts to become a trending topic in both the news and conversation
dr gerald parker the associate dean for global one health at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is on the front lines among the uss leaders in response to the current outbreak; he and others continuously work to elevate the importance of pandemic preparedness and need for more effective biosecurity policies
parker and other leaders are closely following the fast-changing coronavirus and are looking at the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (sars) response as a model
sars a related coronavirus that first appeared in asia in 2002 spread worldwide in just a few months before the outbreak was contained in 2003 there were more than 8 000 confirmed cases and 774 deaths with widespread disruption and significant economic losses in impacted communities
lessons learned from sars included significant shortfalls in early disease reporting transparency global disease surveillance systems collaboration and leadership parker said sars was a wake-up call that an outbreak anywhere can quickly become a risk everywhere and catalyzed global health public health preparedness efforts
the 2019-ncov outbreak is a serious emergency in china and it is not yet known how this will impact the global community
rest assured the global public health and scientific enterprises are on high alert and taking urgent actions building on lessons learned from sars ebola and influenza outbreaks parker said however we still have many unanswered questions in the early phase of this emergency that unfortunately require more time to evolve
several reports are largely positive regarding improved transparency disease reporting and response in china and from the world health organization (who) he said but there are also concerns that transparency and sharing of viral isolates and other data from china needed for research vaccine development and public health guidance are not where it needs to be to enable a more effective international response
our scientific and public health understanding of the underlying science will evolve daily maybe hourly and public health authorities at all levels will have to react to new facts take appropriate action and communicate effectively to the public parker said
on thursday when news broke that a texas a&m student in college station was being quarantined for a suspected case of coronavirus (it was revealed sunday that the test was negative) many in the local community began to worry about the disease with a new perspective while this outbreak is concerning and has global implications the current risk to the bryan/college station community is low according to parker
regarding the suspect case in college station we should take reassurance that public health guidance to front-line health care providers is working in our community parker said
dr tedros adhanom ghebreyesus the who director-general has not declared a public health emergency of international concern for the coronavirus outbreak but the who stressed that this outbreak is a serious emergency in china despite not yet reaching the threshold as a global emergency
this could change quickly and i anticipate the outbreak will lead to an international emergency declaration parker said
as of this date there are more than 2 800 confirmed cases of 2019-ncov and at least 81 reported deaths worldwide; more than 8 000 people are under observation to date serious illness and deaths from this novel coronavirus have been largely confined to individuals over the age of 50 with underlying health conditions according to parker
human-to-human spread is believed to have only occurred in close contact with family members and health care providers
chinese authorities have implemented extensive travel bands in wuhan where the virus was first detected this functional quarantine was extended to several other major cities on saturday impacting upwards of 40 million people
this is an unprecedented action particularly since the virus has already spread beyond that region parker said our policy research will attempt to determine what drove this extraordinary decision
wuhan is also the home of a new biosafety level 4 the highest level of biosafety precautions high-containment lab that is a center of gravity for research on sars in china
the high containment lab in wuhan has internationally renowned sars scientists and i have colleagues in almost daily contact with this laboratory parker said there are good lines of communications open at the scientist to scientist level
research and our scientific enterprise in the us and across the global are the foundation of preparedness and response for infectious diseases with pandemic potential parker said
parker recently took on an additional duty as chair of the national institutes of health national science advisory board for biosecurity (nsabb) this federal advisory board informs policy by making recommendations to the federal government with a goal to enable essential research on enhanced potential pandemic pathogens with appropriate oversight
during the nsabb public meeting on jan 23-24 in washington dc the novel coronavirus outbreak was mentioned frequently during public presentations and board deliberations parker said
texas a&ms global one health aims to make the world safe and secure from emerging infectious with pandemic potential by promoting the one health approachthe synergy of animal human and environmental sciencesto global health and security through global one healths national and international outreach as well as promotion of collaborative zoonotic one health research and building of interdisciplinary learning environments parker continues to make advancements in policy research education and service
there is no doubt the 2019-ncov outbreak is a prime example of why the application and practice of one health are essential to tackle global challenges like infectious diseases with pandemic potential parker said
while waiting for further information everyone can do their part to limit the spread of disease by washing hands using hand sanitizer and avoiding touching of the face if you are showing any symptoms of illness stay home and seek guidance from your health care provider
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences;jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr lori teller explores the endless applications of telemedicine in the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) as the first university-based veterinary telehealth expert
dr lori teller says telehealthconnecting veterinarians and clients electronically so that care can be provided without the time and expense of travelis a game-changer and texas a&m once again is at the forefront
as the worlds first university-based veterinary telehealth expert she should know
teller gained expertise in telemedicine in 2015 when she was in private practice and joined the board of directors of the american veterinary medical association (avma)
telemedicine has been available in human health care for decades and the handwriting was on the wall that it was coming to veterinary medicine she said i suggested that this was something the avma should look into and a working group was formed i was its liaison to the board
the working group had more than 50 members including veterinarians legal and policy experts and other stakeholders the avma adopted the telemedicine policy they developed in july 2017
i think what we learned opened a lot of eyes she said
in 2018 she enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to focus on veterinary telemedicine at her alma mater
i still have to pinch myself she said about returning as a cvm faculty member i walk in the shadows of giantsthose who educated me and helped shape my career i never imagined as a student or as a private practitioner that i would be worthy of following in their footsteps
i think were going to see a lot more virtual care she said
for one thing accessing a veterinarian from home brings clients peace of mind during potentialor realemergencies
lets say a dog owner comes home late at night and finds vomit on the floor but her dog is acting fine teller said does she need to go to the emergency clinic or can it wait until morning virtual care reduces the stress involved in figuring out what to do
it also is an ideal way to provide care in non-emergency areas such as behavior and nutrition
animals often hide their ailments at the hospital teller said so once a physical exam is conducted to determine if there is a disease future visits could be done virtually so the patient is in its own environment and acts naturally
virtual care also reduces obstacles for clients who cannot easily visit a veterinarian because of financial health or transportation issues
veterinary telehealth also benefits practitioners
our clinicians can work virtually with general practitioners in remote areas of the state who are dealing with an unusual case or procedure and if a referral is needed then the client the referring dvm and the specialist at texas a&m are already prepared for what to expect she said
giving these veterinariansas well as new practitionersaccess to a specialist who will help guide them through a problem can make the veterinarian feel less alone while gaining new knowledge and skills
in the next few months the cvm will provide virtual consults to veterinarians around the state to provide just such guidance from how to treat a complicated canine dermatology case to real-time guidance when performing an ultrasound on a horse
whats particularly great about the service well be providing is that a discharge summary and other information such as client handouts or scientific articles can be provided at the end of the virtual visit teller said not only that but the referring dvm can get continuing education credits for the consult we are very excited about this unique aspect of what we are offering
over the next few years teller predicts a major increase in the number of practices that incorporate virtual care for recheck visits triage and more
as the technology improves and people get more comfortable using it the laws and regulations will adapt appropriately she said
remote care monitoring is another area with potential
this is a big growth area in human health care right now and it will eventually move into our realm too teller said
for example remote care monitoring would help veterinary practices that need to hospitalize an animal overnight but dont have around-the-clock staffing animals with heart disease diabetes or other chronic diseases also would benefit from continuous monitoring
as wearable technology improves the data from wearables can be uploaded in real time and an alert sent to the owner if something is off and requires veterinary attention teller said
augmented intelligence and virtual reality will also play a bigger role in veterinary care
it will be possible for one of our surgeons to remotely help a surgeon in another city or even another countrya tremendous benefit for people in underserved areas or developing countries teller said the applications are endless it will be possible for example to overlay an mri image onto the patient to more precisely guide where incisions should be made and where to watch out for nerves or vessels
teller decided to become a veterinarian at age 6 and started working for her familys veterinarian in houston at age 12
i fainted on my first day! she said but i was hooked
since joining the cvm faculty she has been impressed by the spirit of innovation and collaboration
the cvm offers tremendous opportunities to try new things she said the human health care providers did many things well with telehealth but also made mistakes we can learn from them and get it right for our colleagues clients and patients
teller is confident that animals that do not currently receive veterinary care or the level of care required will soon have opportunities to get help through the cvms telehealth programs
just like anything else worth doing virtual care is worth doing well and of course there is a cost to making this new work happen she said we are grateful to those who support us i would tell each of them that no profession is more exhilarating than veterinary medicine!
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

in conjunction with texas a&ms disaster week 2020 the texas a&m superfund research center will bring together members of the emergency response community to share with students faculty and staff valuable tips on planning ahead
plan ahead be prepared will be held on feb 10 from 10 am to 2 pm at the kyle field plaza during which members of the texas a&m community can get tips on being prepared for a variety of hazards related to natural disasters including how to protect your home assembling first aid kits keeping pets safe and planning evacuation routes
in addition to the superfund research center participating organizations from texas a&m include the geochemical & environmental research group the hazard reduction & recovery center the health science center the office of safety & security the campus chapter of the american society of safety professionals the texas water resources institute and the veterinary emergency team
participating organizations from the community and the state include the american red cross baylor scott & white health the brazos county health district emergency preparedness the brazos valley citizen corps/community emergency response team brazos fellowship the national weather service brookshire brothers and brookshire brothers pharmacy catholic charities of central texas the salvation army emergency disaster services the texas commission on environmental quality the texas military departments 6th weapons of mass destruction civil support team the texas division of emergency management the united way of the brazos valley/2-1-1 texas and the texas department of state health services
each organization will have informational tables at which team members will discuss their efforts related to disaster preparedness and tips to help aggies prepare in all capacitiesprotecting their homes families and petsin the event of an emergency
educating the public on the hazards related to all types of disaster events is incredibly important said arlean rohde superfund center manager awareness and preparation are key; knowing the potential hazards and taking the necessary steps to protect yourself your family and your pets can make the difference between life and death
the event is free and open to the public
in addition the superfund research center will sponsor a blood drive with gulf coast regional blood center on that day from 10 am to 2:30 pm at kyle field plaza donors can pre-register to give blood at https://tinyurlcom/tamufeb10
the texas a&m superfund research center is a national institute of environmental health sciences (niehs)-funded program comprising researchers from across the texas a&m campus and several other academic centers that aims to comprehensively evaluate hazards of exposures to chemical mixtures and potential adverse health impacts to those affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes a goal of the center is to develop better faster more informative tools that can aid in decision-making for planning and response to environmental contamination events
for more information contact rohde at arohde@cvmtamuedu or 9798624063
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences;jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr william mccain and brenda bridges are paying tribute to their beloved jetty and her teddy with an endowed residency at the texas a&m small animal hospital
jetty bridges is a legacy as a frequent visitor of the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) jetty was known as the sweet black lab who could always be found carrying her beloved and well-worn teddy bear in her mouth
following jettys death in 2017 her legacy has taken on a different formthe namesake for the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) first endowed residency established in her honor by owners dr william mccain and brenda bridges
jetty first came to the vmth when bridges brought her to participate in a radiography study of the front limbs of healthy labrador retrievers for several weeks jetty visited the clinic to receive imaging that would one day be part of a published paper contributing to the body of knowledge about standing radiographs
when jetty was 5 years old she returned to the small animal hospital (sah) this time receiving a diagnosis of chagas disease a parasitic disease caused by kissing bugs
it was an alarming diagnosis as chagas disease can often be fatal to dogs and people but bridges and mccain knew jetty was in good hands
over the years jetty was seen by nearly every service in the sah from cardiology to dermatology to neurology
throughout her life she underwent several surgeries including a partial pinealectomy and several surgeries on her elbow including a canine unicompartmental elbow replacement in 2013
thanks to the sah jetty lived for 9 years after her chagas disease diagnosis she was almost 14 when she passed away she was cremated with her beloved bear
over those years countless students interns and residents learned from jetty and became better prepared for their veterinary careers as a result of treating her
through all of her surgeries jetty never balked at entering the cvm bridges said it was her stage she loved going there and seeing the doctors and staff this stoic small labrador toughed out whatever fate threw her way
following jettys death clinicians throughout the hospital commented on the loss
jetty brightened any room and made everyone smile said one of jettys clinicians
losing jetty hurts a bit more than other losses she was a good friend said another the good fight is over but jetty and teddy will not be forgotten
outside of the sah jetty was an elite show dog with a much longer title: ch dewberries argonaut atalanta ra sh
she was one of a select number of dogs to receive this combination of titles by excelling in more than one akc sportch is conformation champion; ra is rally advanced; and sh is senior hunter in greek mythology atalanta was a fierce huntress and was always happy; jetty was both
but to her family she was simply jetty a name given to her because a jetty protects a harbor
bridges spent many years breeding black labrador retrievers and there were always dogs at the house jetty immediately stood out to her and mccain as a special pup so they decided to keep her
but it wasnt until a few years later that mccain knew she was his dog and understood their unbreakable bond
jetty had done her conformation championship and one weekend we had taken her to do her senior hunter test mccain said during the water test i was sitting under a tree in a folding chair and when she finished the trial she cut a trail directly to me she was completely sopping wet but she jumped into my lap and started kissing me in the face thats when i knew id been selected!
mccain and jetty grew even closer over the yearshe is full of stories about her exceptional abilities
he recalls how she would ride with him in the elevator to his apartment each time theyd go up shed wait in the corner of the elevator with her teddy
just before it got to my floor shed deliberately walk over to the door so that when she got to the door it would open as if on cue mccain said i wondered ‘how does she know which floor we live on and then i realized she could count
for mccain and bridges honoring jetty with a residency was an important way to pay tribute to their favorite dog
the endowment will fund a full-time resident in the department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs)
veterinary residencies provide advanced training in a clinical specialty that leads to specialized certification these positions typically last for three-year periods and are critical to the hospital as they allow for increased caseloads and create more opportunities for invaluable research
residents gain experience in professional veterinary medical education and develop invaluable skills as veterinary teachers
mccain and bridges hope that future recipients will be proud to earn the title of jettys resident
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

dr stephen safe a distinguished professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) has developed a family of pharmaceutical compounds (c-dims) that could be a potential treatment method for a variety of diseases
safes team has now established a research collaboration and licensing agreement with the scottsdale arizona -based systems oncology to commercially develop a series of pharmaceutical compounds based on the texas a&m teams work
safes lab discovered that their c-dims bind and inactivate a set of orphan nuclear receptors nr4a1 and nr4a2 known to have increased activity in such conditions as breast cancer glioblastoma rhabdomyosarcoma endometrial cancer and endometriosis
because nr4a-nuclear receptors play a significant role in inflammation and cell division safe and his team have primarily focused on cancer and endometriosis models targeting the receptor as a means for treating these diseases
this receptor has been identified in several laboratories and is also involved in metabolic disease arthritis and cardiovascular disease safe said its really becoming an important drug target
the nr4a-family of nuclear receptors have been found to activate many cellular processes related to cancer progression such as rapid reproduction of malignant cells inhibiting programmed cell death and invasion c-dims have the ability to eliminate those processes without affecting normal cells
the nuclear orphan receptor nr4a1 seems to be very pro-oncogenic; it makes cells grow and divide and invade and it has all sorts of cancer-like properties safe said our compounds bind to this receptor and inactivate it so all the pro-cancerous activity of this receptor in solid tumors is inactivated by our c-dims
the initial research on the role of c-dim/nr4a antagonists for treating rhabdomyosarcoma a serious pediatric cancer was funded by the kleberg foundation; this has resulted in several publications including a paper in cancer research a publication from the american association for cancer research
in addition safes studies of endometriosis in collaboration with dr sang jun han at baylor college of medicine have found that nr4a1 levels are higher in women with the condition than those without endometriosis affects nearly 15 percent of women of reproductive age but the only treatment for the condition is hormonal medications c-dims could provide a non-hormonal therapy for treating this condition
our drugs target this receptor safe said in cancer the drugs inhibit all of these oncogenic pathways and in endometriosis they inhibit inflammatory pathways
the safe laboratory in collaboration with cvm assistant research scientist dr gus wright has also been developing c-dims as small molecule mimics of immunotherapeutics which are a new class of drugs that have limited but highly effective anticancer activities
studies by wright and dr keshav karki a graduate student in the safe laboratory have now demonstrated that c-dims mimic the activities of immunotherapeutics in mouse models of breast cancer; this researchsupported by the national institutes of health texas a&m agrilife research and the sid kyle chair endowmentis also described in a publication that has been accepted by cancer research (https://cancerresaacrjournalsorg/content/early/2020/01/07/0008-5472can-19-2314)
before the treatment can be given to humans c-dims must be tested and optimized for a targeted disease which is where systems oncology comes in systems oncology will steer the most promising c-dim(s) through the pharmaceutical regulatory process through early-stage clinical trials and subsequently will form partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies to enable the clinical use of these c-dims in the future
additionally systems oncology has made a commitment to sponsor further research and development activities in safes lab over the next three years
safe believes the drugs can be used to help in the treatment of cancer endometriosis and potentially other disease
were pretty excited about it safe said were getting more information on the drugs ability to treat cancer endometriosis and potentially other diseases and it all looks good were just hoping we can bring it forward so that c-dims can proceed into clinical trials and provide benefits to patients
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
neurosurgeon nick jeffery has seen his fair share of unusual cases so when he had the opportunity to perform the first spinal tap on a dolphin saying yes was a no-brainer
on an average day dr nick jeffery spends much of his time trying to develop new treatments for dogs with spinal cord injuries which means he has performed thousands of spinal tapsextracting the watery fluid around the brainon dogs
a member of the innovative and interdisciplinary texas a&m institute for neuroscience one of just a few centers in the world that focus on spinal cord injuries he also studies the loss of neurologic function associated with injury to the cruciate ligament in the knee and specifically whether the common experience of feeling unsteady after the knee is stabilized by surgery is neurological in origin and how it might be fixed
these injuries are common in both dogs and humans; 15 to 20 dogs come through the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital (sah) each week with ligament injuries
but when the professor of neurology and neurosurgery got the call to join a team in performing the first-ever spinal tap on a live dolphin he jumped at the chance to be a part of something quite interesting
i didnt know anything about dolphins except that theyre cool he said i learned that only a few have been successfully anesthetized until recently its risky while csf (cerebrospinal fluid) sampling has been performed on dead dolphins this was the first for a live dolphin
this one rimmy was a young female bottlenose the most common species seen in tv shows like flipper and at aquariums and marine parks
like hundreds of others each year rimmy was stranded along the gulf coast she was found in september 2017 at sea rim state park in sabine pass and a marine mammal rescue group treated her in galveston for pneumonia nasal parasites and other ailments
but before the staff of the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration could find her a permanent home they had to make sure she was healthy
the fear was that she might have brucella the pathogen that causes brucellosis a highly contagious disease found in many species of animals as well as about half a million humans each year and can cause brain disease in dolphins
they took blood samples and did other tests that all indicated that she may or may not have it they couldnt be sure jeffery said
the only way to rule out the possibility was to perform a spinal tap to extract and test some of the watery fluid that surrounds the brain
that meant anesthetizing hera huge deal because dolphins dont fare well out of the water and its difficult to give them oxygen during a procedure because they breathe differently holding their breath almost all of the time unlike other mammals
humans breathe in and out all the time but most of the time a dolphins lungs are full of air so that it can stay underwater jeffery said the anesthetists had to try to mimic that for more than eight hours during the procedure
in addition a dolphins larynx or voice box can either point forward through their mouth or upward so that it goes through their blowhole which can present a problem when trying to insert tubes to anesthetize a dolphin
fortunately a team of dolphin and sea lion anesthesia specialists was on hand including seaworld veterinarians dr jennifer camilleri dr steve osborn and dr hendrik nollens as well as seaworlds animal husbandry team
rimmy was sedated and then placed in a hammock on a crane and lifted out of the water the veterinary team used ultrasound to place an intravenous catheter and kept her skin wet throughout the intensive procedure they also had to keep her lungs from crushing since she was more than six feet long and weighed about 250 pounds
then it was jefferys turn while jeffery has performed thousands of spinal taps on dogs he had to study dolphin anatomy in order to correctly account for the shape of the skull and the relationship of the brain to the spinal cord
while i initially thought it would be very different in dolphinsbecause of the shape of the skull and because the relationship of the brain to the spinal cord is completely differentsince ive completed the procedure i realize that its not so different from a dog he said
the one big difference: the needle was huge compared to what i use on dogs! jeffery said
when the procedure was finished the team took rimmy off of the ventilator and made sure she could move her larynx to her blowhole to breathe on her own before placing her in a shallow pool
there were about six people in the pool with her ready to get her out if there was a problem i made sure she was all right and swimming around before i left he said
all of the tests came back negative for infectious disease which meant she could mix with the other dolphins at the center and eventually be re-homed
it was nice to be able to contribute to this because it meant that rimmy could go live a nice life which she otherwise wouldnt have been able to do jeffery said
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

fresh off of being recognized with the zoetis distinguished veterinary teacher award dr sara lawhon an associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been recognized with the students of the american veterinary medical associations (savma) 2019-2020 teaching excellence award for her dedication to student success both in and out of the classroom
the teaching excellence award recognizes outstanding teachers in the veterinary profession who deserve to be honored for their impact on veterinary students it is open to nominations by veterinary students from across the united states as well as several international savma student chapters
i am truly humbled by this award lawhon said the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is home to a large group of outstanding educators they make each day an exciting adventure in learning i am grateful for everything they have taught me and especially grateful for our highly dedicated students
lawhon was nominated by third-year veterinary student rachel ellerd who recently enjoyed and benefitted from lawhons teaching in her agents of disease course
instead of just giving us a list of facts during lecture she walks us through interesting cases and helps us think about why each disease progresses in their unique processes ellerd said in the nomination letter although infectious disease is admittedly not my favorite subject dr lawhon made ‘agents of disease one of my favorite classes because she presented the information in an intuitive and thought-provoking way
lawhon also acted as ellerds mentor on a project she was inspired to begin as a result of a class activity on fecal floats when ellerd brought a sample from her pet crested gecko she discovered that very little peer-reviewed research existed on the species with lawhons advice and encouragement ellerd began a research project on a variety of lizards that is set to become a published paper
dr lawhon is undoubtedly very busy during the semester; however there was no hesitation when she agreed to take time out of her weekend to help me analyze gecko fecal samples ellerd said although she specializes in salmonella and had nothing to gain by helping with my project she spent hours assisting with data collection research and development just to foster a love of research in one of her students
ellerd also referenced lawhons dedication to her students mental health in the nomination letter; she quoted an email in which lawhon emphasized that genuine learning was more important than perfect grades and that her role as teacher was to support and help however she could
we have no doubts that all our professors want the best for us but dr lawhon really went the extra mile to let us know we meant more to her than our grades ellerd said with this teaching style the pressure of trying to make all as was lifted and i actually began to learn for the sake of learningnot to keep up my gpa i noticed that i started to enjoy class much more and in fact learned the subject more deeply
i am truly grateful for rachels effort nominating me lawhon said busy veterinary students do not have a lot of time so for her to put so much effort into this nomination means a lot to me
lawhon will be presented with her award and a $360 prize during the 2020 savma symposium at cornell university for which she will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to attend the symposium with ellerd as the author of the winning nomination ellerd will also receive a cash prize of $200
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
veterinary technician dana whitaker has a busy career in the small animal hospitals soft tissue surgery service but she finds joy in the little things such as getting to work with the animals she loves
at the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) veterinary technicians work behind the scenes to keep the hospital going
from ensuring pets stay comfortable to assisting veterinarians in surgery veterinary technicians are always ready and willing to help
according to dana whitaker a veterinary technician in the sahs soft tissue surgery service they grease the wheels between services to keep everything running smoothly
we make sure everything remains harmonious and moving along as it should whitaker said we do everything from making sure the pets are happy while theyre here to doing any of the diagnostic work that needs to be done
working in the soft tissue surgery service is more than just preparing for and cleaning up after surgeries; for whitaker every day also involves teaching both the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary students and the veterinary technician students who come from blinn college and other veterinary technician programs to learn
the students have been in the classrooms for years whitaker said they come to the clinic floor and its like a brand-new world to them
we help students adjust and educate them help them apply all of those things theyve read about to real life she explained you can read about these procedures but actually doing them is a whole other story
along with teaching technical skills whitaker focuses on helping students know when they need to consult with another veterinarian because according to whitaker it is especially important to know when to ask for help in a busy atmosphere like the sah where services deal with serious cases every day in 2018 the soft tissue surgery department had 420 surgery cases not including wound care bandage changes or helping other services
veterinary technicians have very demanding careers with long hours emotional days and little downtime at work however many people still feel called to this career path because of their love for animals
with a background in retail and customer service whitaker never planned on becoming a veterinary technician until she got her first dog reilly
i had her spayed and i could not handle not knowing what was going on with her whitaker said thats where my interest in veterinary medicine came in
after discovering this new passion she decided to pursue a veterinary technician degree at bel-rea institute of animal technology where she graduated in 2005 she then began working as an anesthesia technician at the sah later moving to soft tissue surgery
sadly reilly developed brain cancer when she was 8 years old sah veterinary surgeons and oncologists worked together to remove reillys tumor and begin chemotherapy but whitaker made the difficult decision to stop treatment when she noticed that the medicine changed reillys personality reilly crossed the rainbow bridge in june 2009
though saddened by the loss whitaker said she felt comforted by the compassion her sah coworkers showed throughout the case she uses the experience to better empathize with clients who are dealing with a similar loss
this ability to comfort others has also helped during her five deployments with the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) since 2009 as a founding member of the vet whitaker has spent countless hours working with texas task force 1 urban search and rescue canines and their handlers as well as animals impacted by natural or man-made disasters
for every deployment i have been on i still remember the pets we saw whitaker said i went to bastrop our first deployment with the vet this one cat came in he was a little bit singed but he wasnt burned his whiskers were curled from the heat but he didnt have any wounds
this cat had a collar on with a tag with his name and his phone number and he only had the singed whiskers it was a celebration of ‘yay! this one is going to find his people! things like that stick with me when you have that great positive outcome
a true animal lover whitaker said she often recognizes owners by their pets being able to bond with her animal patients is part of what makes the veterinary technician job so appealing to her
i can tell you name after name of pets weve helped; every case sticks with me she said
whitaker herself has multiple pets including a dog named crockett who has proven to be a learning experience
hes cute but hes so naughty whitaker said with a laugh i used to be the technician saying ‘i cant believe these people have this naughty dog hes so bad! now i have the same dog and i get it i have a little bit more compassion for those clients who are like ‘i know hes terrible but i just love him
whitakers talents as a veterinary technician have been recognized many times most notably when she was awarded the texas veterinary medical associations veterinary technician of the year award in 2016 though her job can be demanding and exhausting she said she still loves working at the sah
im working full cases with cutting-edge technology and with brilliant surgeons clinicians and anesthesiologists she said i dont think its anything i could ever get anywhere else
she also said the sah has a strong sense of family among coworkers including the students who pass through during their fourth-year clinical rotations
i really love working with the students because i feel like it keeps me young she said
luckily for her the sah will see no shortage of students in the coming years all excited to learn from experienced and talented veterinary technicians like whitaker
as new technologies and treatments are developed veterinary technicians at the sah will have even more opportunities to provide students with the best education possible and to provide pets with the best care possible
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team of academic researchers and a small animal hospital clinician have come together for the health and safety of dogs working at the us border
dogs working at the united states-mexico border face daily obstacles as they endeavor to keep the country safe from terrorism and criminal trafficking but a team of researchers at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and its small animal hospital (sah) is working to ensure that chagas disease is not one of those obstacles
working with dr ashley saunders a cardiologist at the sah cvm associate professor dr sarah hamer and recent doctoral graduate alyssa meyers have spent the past four years examining the impending health implications of chagas disease and the effect this disease has on the us department of homeland security (dhs) working dogs ability to work
as a result of their early findings last year the team received dhs funding to complete the third phase of the study which is also being done in collaboration with the institute for infectious animal diseases (iiad) at texas a&m
chagas disease caused by the protozoan parasite trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted through kissing or conenose bugs while chagas disease has long been known in central and south america there is now increasing awareness for the disease in the southern united states where kissing bugs occur
hamer meyers and saunders all have devoted portions of their research to understanding the full impact of chagas disease when they began looking at government working dogs across the usand not just on the southern borderthey found that approximately 7 percent were exposed to the parasite that causes chagas disease
the dhs maintains more than 3 000 working dogs across the country including the security dogs at the airports customs and border protection dogs coast guard dogs federal protective service dogs and secret service dogs meyers explained these are highly valuable dogs often selected for their drive and pedigree and unfortunately our initial research found that up to 18 percent of the working dogs along the texas-mexico border were positive for exposure to t cruzi the chagas parasite
the team has now narrowed the research to understand the long-lasting health implications of chagas disease in these working dogs a project that has required hamer and meyers to take trips to the border several times a year to assess the dogs while on the job
its pretty cool work because were intercepting these border patrol dogs while theyre working hamer said we just want a glimpse to take a blood sample monitor their heart and we want to put on a fit barkwhich is like a fit bit but for dogsall while theyre still working and doing their normal jobs
because chagas disease can cause acute or chronic heart disease or death in dogs and humans saunders who has worked with hamer for years on chagas-related research to help with the project came aboard to evaluate the tests used to assess the dogs for heart disease
the collaboration with dr hamers lab is important for advancing our understanding of chagas disease from all aspectsthe epidemiology of the disease the vectors and the dogs themselves saunders said it is a more effective way to work and learn and has been invaluable
their work also has potential to affect the work saunders does in the sah every day she said
we routinely see dogs with heart disease attributed to chagas disease she said for clinical patients the disease can be difficult to manage and prognosis can be poor with no available treatment this is frustrating for owners and us
getting involved in this research allows us to better understand the disease and treat our patients she said
because there is no vaccination to prevent chagas disease in humans or animals and treatment is limited meyers said the team also plans to use this grant to focus on what can be done to control the kissing bugs and prevent transmission
vector control includes things like clearing brush where kissing bugs can dwell from around kennels and houses minimizing the use of light at night because kissing bugs are drawn to light and securing access to kennels to prevent bugs from getting in meyers said
although securing the kennels may seem like an easy fix it can be a costly and challenging intervention for these facilities which house dozens of dogs according to hamer
along with studying chagas disease hamers team will be using the grant to study other vector-borne diseasesincluding those spread by ticks and mosquitoesthat may impact these working dogs
because these working dogs spend lots of time outside where they may be exposed to vectors they may provide a sensitive indication of the different vector-borne infections across the landscape that are not only important for dog health but also human health hamer said our studies will have an increased focus on what we can do to ensure these animals remain healthy were excited that texas a&m university is helping secure the health of these important animals that are on the front lines of security for our country
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
aggie fans of nat geo wild may see some familiar faces in the television channels newest veterinary-centered show dr t lone star vet
the show starring dr lauren thielen a 2013 graduate of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) aired for eight weeks in fall 2019 and is now available for viewing on the disney+ streaming service
dr t lone star vet follows thielen former cvm professor dr sharman hoppes and dr bruce nixon dvm 85 as they treat exotic animal patients at texas avian & exotic hospital in grapevine texas
im that type of personality that likes these things i thought it would be great to educate audiences on exotic animals through an outlet so lovely as national geographic thielen said i dont think i ever expected something like this to happen but im really glad it did
this program marks thielens second television appearance
after graduating from the cvm thielen pursued an internship under dr susan kelleher at broward avian and exotics animal hospital in florida
there thielen appeared on the nat geo wild show dr ks exotic animal er from its beginning in 2014 until she left in 2018 for texas avian & exotic hospital near thielens hometown of fort worth
thielen said she joined hoppes and nixon as a partner of the practice after being intrigued by the concept of putting an exotic animal practice within a larger complex of other veterinary specialties at this complex patients can also seek specialized care in veterinary surgery internal medicine cardiology dermatology ophthalmology critical care and dentistry services
thielen said she hopes her program will improve knowledge of how owners can properly care for their exotic pets she believes it is her responsibility as a veterinarian to educate
in general a veterinarians job is to make sure the animals are cared for properly she said with exotic animals more times than not theyre just unfortunately not cared for properly because these people arent having proper education
thielen estimates that 50 percent of cases she sees are caused by inadequate knowledge of proper pet care a deficiency she believes is the result of exotic animals being less commonly owned thielen hopes that the wide-reaching format of television will help her address this problem
television is a great format to be able to communicate exotic animal care and medicine because theres so many people watching it she said i am able to talk to so many people at the same time and to people who are unlikely to have sought out veterinary help for their animal otherwise
additionally thielen said that not all exotic pet owners have easy access to veterinarians who are specialized in exotic animal medicine many of thielens patients must travel to the texas avian & exotic hospital since it is the only exotics-exclusive facility in the dallas-fort worth metroplex
thielen said she also values the opportunity to inspire the next generation of exotic animal veterinarians
little girls and even students in veterinary school write me and visit the clinic theyre like ‘i want to be an exotic veterinarian one day she said i didnt even know this job existed until i was already in veterinary school for these people to already know what they want to do for the rest of their lives i just think thats so cool
thielen hopes that viewers of dr t lone star vet will gain perspective on the current state of veterinary medicine and on how many treatment options exist for their animals
i want to show people how veterinary medicine is supposed to be practiced she said being able to show veterinary collaboration at its finest is important i want to show people that your birds can go to cardiologists too
thielen certainly has a lot on her plate between her new practice and television series however she feels confident that she can face whatever life brings through her clinics doors
honestly i see pretty much everything now she said in reference to the diversity of species she treats theres much i havent seen yet but i think im ready for almost anything
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
cvm ambassadors angelica frazer and colton aleman train service dogs to provide veterans with a source of comfort in the home they served to protect
texas a&m students are often known for having the desire to help others in their communities and beyond angelica frazer an ambassador for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is a perfect example of this dedication to selfless service
as the incoming president of the student organization patriot paws of aggieland frazer spends much of her free time training service dogs for veterans
our end goal is to reduce the veteran suicide rate in the us because right now there are 22 veterans on average who commit suicide every single day frazer said
patriot paws of aggieland and its parent organization based in rockwell texas offer trained service dogs at no cost to veterans with physical disabilities post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) or other mental health conditions
since her freshman year at texas a&m frazer has helped raise and train 11 dogs for patriot paws caring for each for about four months patriot paws of aggieland the largest service dog organization at texas a&m typically has around 100 students training dogs each semester
members of the student organization spend one semester learning cues attending weekly training classes and shadowing experienced trainers they can then be certified and start training a service dog as long as they continue to remain active within the organization
after that first semester you can literally get a dog the week after as i did my freshman year frazer said its a commitment but its worth it
though frazer does the majority of dog care and training on her own she always has the support of her boyfriend and fellow cvm ambassador colton aleman
its a large time commitment aleman said ive seen how much time she puts into it id actually love to know the hours per week; i feel like it would be a full-time job
aleman a senior biomedical sciences major and member of the corps of cadets has a passion for mental health awareness and hopes to one day serve as a clinical social worker with the us navy at texas a&m he was one of the first members of aggie mental health ambassadors an organization that works to end the stigma against mental health on campus
having lost his uncle to suicide as a result of ptsd aleman said he really appreciates what patriot paws stands for and hopes to accomplish though too busy to take on a dog himself he does what he can to help frazer with hers
frazers current service dog a 1-year-old labrador retriever named mcdermott will stay with her until december before moving on to another trainer thanks to a partnership with the texas department of criminal justice patriot paws is able to rotate dogs between the care of texas a&m students and the men and women in texas prisons
its a great community service for those who are in the prison system frazer said they fall in love with the dogs and it really helps them through their hard times as well
the dogs usually puppies when they begin training need about two years of practice before they can pass the american canine good citizen test and be sent to live with a veteran
when the dogs are trained within the texas prison system they learn in an environment that offers few distractions for them; when texas a&m students take over handling the dogs that training is reinforced in a distraction-filled environment that more readily aligns with what they will encounter as a certified service dog
besides traditional behavioral cues the dogs are also taught a large variety of skills such as how to close and
open doors bring over a drink or prosthetic leg and put on their own service vests
once we have them paired with a veteran we work with the dog for a couple of weeks to teach them how to help with that veterans specific disability frazer said
sometimes the dogs are a better match for social companions she said we do find veterans who just need a social companion someone to be there and guide them and be with them all the time
after the veterans and dogs work together for a short trial period patriot paws hosts pairing day to permanently match each veteran with the best dog for his or her needs and personality
we often see that the dog picks the person frazer said they definitely bond during pairing day; you can see it just click
pairing day is full of celebration but can also be bittersweet for the patriot paws trainers who must say goodbye to their dogs
you feel like a mom because you see your child up on the stage running with the diploma in his mouth to his veteran and youre just so proud of them for actually making it and graduating frazer said but youre also really sad because theyre leaving ‘home
with caring for her dogs serving as the patriot paws president and being a cvm ambassador frazer keeps a very busy schedule in addition to leading tours of the cvm she also shows guests around main campus for msc hospitality the official host of the memorial student center
she said her goal is to attend veterinary school preferably at the cvm where she can also be a member of the veterinary emergency team one day she hopes to work as a mixed-practice veterinarian
besides her temporary service dog in training frazer also has a great pyrenees-lab mix named dante whom she adopted after he dropped out of the patriot paws program
its interesting having a pet at home and then having my service dog with me on campus she said dante gets the fun part of it but the service dog gets the working part both of them love it though if they get fed theyre happy dogs
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the cardiology clinical trials dr sonya gordon leads are helping to solve some of the biggest issues with the canine heart while creating tools veterinarians can use to treat patients betterand more cost-effectively
for texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) cardiologist sonya gordon the adage the greater the risk the greater the reward has become something of a philosophy that drives her approach to clinical trials
thats because as she works to solve some of the biggest issues in canine cardiology the clinical trials she is involved with often work with some of the sickest patients
but the impact of her work so far has been…well epic
for example in the recently completed epic trial gordon helped identify an effective treatment for canine mitral valve disease (mvd) a condition characterized by the degeneration of the mitral valve mvd accounts for more than 75 percent of all canine heart disease and ultimately leads to heart failure in many dogs
the epic study findingswhich have been deemed revolutionarydemonstrated that the drug pimobendan effectively delays the onset of clinical signs of mvd and extends overall survival
gordon and the other two lead investigators are now working on the third and final manuscript for that study the original and second manuscripts were both recognized with awards for receiving some of the most downloads in the 12 months following online publication indicating the immediate impact and visibility the work generated as well as the significant contributions the study made to the advancement of the field
perhaps the most important impact of the epic study is the change in the revised american college of veterinary internal medicine consensus statement guidelines for the treatment of canine valvular disease gordon said the epic study results led to the refinement of the staging criteria for the disease and a strong evidence-based recommendation for the initiation of pimobendan when dogs hearts meet the size criteria used in the epic study
the publication of the new updated consensus statement will continue to impact the incorporation of the epic study results into practice around the world resulting in dogs being well longer
building on that momentum gordon is involved in two current clinical trials that focus on specific breeds that experience very serious cardiac issuesdoberman pinschers and cavalier king charles spaniels
her clinical trial with doberman pinschers is among the first gene transfer studies for pets the work gordon did with the us food and drug administration before the trial even began will build a pathway for other pet gene therapy projects a contribution in and of itself
collaborating with drs paul a grayburn and chen shuyuan at the texas a&m college of medicine and baylor university medical center gordon and her resident blakeley janacek are exploring a minimally invasive way to deliver a gene that potentially has regenerative properties that may lead to strengthening the heart in dobermans with dilated cardiomyopathy a disease that causes the heart muscle to enlarge and become weak
as many as 60 percent of dobermans will get this disease in their lifetime; its that common in the breed gordon said and it is a relentlessly progressive disease once they have it we know a medication (pimobendan) can slow down the progression but the reality is that when the heart is so tired and sick what it really needs is ideally regeneration
in piloting this trial gordon and janacek have enrolled three dogs and are actively looking for seven more because dilated cardiomyopathy is such a devastating disease the dogs with which they are working are extremely sickthe literature indicates that the median survival is three weeks once a dog is in heart failure though gordons experience has been that they may live for up to six months
were still in the learning phases of the study for sure but weve had some promising short-term results she said
in the second clinical trial gordon and her cvm cardiology colleagues dr ashley saunders and dr sonya wesselowski are examining blood samples chest radiographs echocardiograms electrocardiograms and heart sounds collected with an artificially intelligent stethoscope from 300 healthy cavalier king charles spaniels of all ages that have heart murmurs
the studys goal is to build a prediction model that will help primary care veterinarians identify when pimobendan should be initiated (like with the epic study) when an echocardiogram is not available currently an echocardiogram is considered the best test but it can be expensive and is not always available
while not all of gordons projects are translational her doberman project does have potential implications for humans and gordon hopes her project offers the first step toward helping both human and veterinary patients
one goal of managing heart disease in animals is to identify it early and find ways to delay progression especially in the early preclinical stage so they can die with heart disease but not from it gordon said we really hope to find ways to provide veterinarians out in the field with the tools they need so they can do what they need to do thats how we raise the bar of veterinary care
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m agrilife and texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences are offering the first-ever field training for north american private-sector veterinarians and state and federal animal health officials for foot-and-mouth disease
the training will include hands-on experience in the diagnosis and investigation of a real outbreak in a foot-and-mouth disease-endemic country the event is brought together by agrilifes collaboration with the european commission for the control of foot and mouth disease eufmd
registration closes on jan 2 and the course will be held in uganda feb 9-14 training will cover foot-and-mouth disease pathogenesis clinical diagnosis laboratory testing epidemiology outbreak investigation and biosecurity it will also equip participants to pass-on the training they receive to others back home after the course
agrilife is working with the global community to bring solutions to the nation and texas through new research diagnostic tools and trainings foot-and-mouth disease is a severe extremely contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle swine sheep goats and deer
while the us canada and mexico have not experienced an occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929 1952 and 1954 respectively globally the disease is endemic in many countries in asia the middle east and large parts of africa it also continues to be seen in some parts of europe along with sporadic outbreaks in south america
the us livestock industries and animal health officials have been working on us foot-and-mouth disease preparedness plans for many years said elizabeth parker dvm agrilife research the need for this training is at an all-time high for us veterinarians working with livestock the recent rapid spread of african swine fever across asia reminds us of the need to be vigilant and increase our preparedness for foreign animal diseases such as african swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease if the us had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease early detection is key and our private sector veterinarians will most likely be the boots on the ground to help regulatory animal health officials implement the daily response
the return of foot-and-mouth disease to the us is one of the biggest threats to our industry said colin woodall chief executive officer for the national cattlemens beef association it is important that courses like this are used to help educate train and prepare large animal vets and industry experts to help us respond quickly and decisively preparation and prevention are key and this course will help with both
the training course will enable participants to learn how to safely examine livestock without spreading the disease between farms; how to age lesions and take foot-and-mouth disease diagnostic samples; understand what the us regulations will require; and how to help clients develop a biosecurity plan specific for their operations to minimize the odds of an outbreak on their farm or ranch
private veterinarians play a vital role in protecting the us dairy herd from foot-and-mouth disease said jamie jonker phd vice president for sustainability and scientific affairs for the national milk producers federation hands-on training opportunities to observe foot-and-mouth disease are an excellent opportunity for dairy veterinarians to hone their skills in protecting the us dairy herd from the disease
foot-and-mouth disease is not a food safety or public health threat but it does pose a serious economic risk to the us agricultural and food industry due to large-scale production losses and severe restrictions on international trade control and eradication costs could also be significant according to usda research suggests an outbreak in the us could result in losses of $15 billion to $100 billion depending on the duration of the outbreak the extent of trade restrictions and consumer reactions
we are proud to offer this course the first of its kind for north america to give our veterinarians the resources and training to properly and safely manage a potentially catastrophic disease among our nations livestock said eleanor m green dvm and the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m
the european commission for the control of foot-and-mouth disease has been offering this training for over 10 years for other countries but this is the first opportunity designed specifically for north america a field veterinarian from us department of agriculture-animal and plant health inspection service will also take part during each training to discuss the specifics of a us response
this course is a great opportunity for private practitioners where they will get a foreign animal disease diagnostician-like experience and see foot-and-mouth disease in person said dr burke healy us chief veterinarian and veterinary services deputy administrator for usdas animal and plant health inspection service while weve been able to send a few veterinarians to a european course in the past having a course hosted by a us institution will mean that many more us veterinarians will be able to participate private practitioners play an important role in helping us detect foreign animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease or african swine fever should they ever occur in the united states giving us a better chance to catch a disease before it is widespread
more information and registration for the course can be found at https://vetmedtamuedu/ce/continuing-education-eu-fmd-training/
more information on foot-and-mouth disease can be found at https://wwwfoot-and-mouth diseaseinfoorg/
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
in addition to leading the clinical trials core dr heather-wilson robles trials work to fine tune pharmaceuticals that could eventually be used in human cancers as well as screening tests that could help veterinarians better diagnose cancers
of the seven clinical trials currently underway in the small animal hospitals (sah) oncology service associate professor dr heather wilson-robles has her hands in four or five
the university of tennessee veterinary graduate whose research focuses on pediatric bone cancer has been personally touched by the devastating disease in both her family and her pets and those experiences have informed her work
some of my clinical trials are comparative in that theyre meant to help humans and some are not in that theyre meant to help only animals she said oncology is prime to do those things because it is so translational
about half of all dogs and a third of all cats over the age of 10 get cancer translationally and perhaps ironically while elderly dogs tend to get cancer they tend to get pediatric cancers
conversely cats tend to get geriatric cancers but their cancerswith the exception of feline tumors in the neck and headgenerally arent as translatable
that hasnt stopped wilson-robles from being one of the few sah clinicians to offer a clinical trial for cats however
in one of two joint lymphoma studies with colleague dr michael deveauthe only joint veterinary radiation oncologist and medical physicist in the countrywilson-robles is investigating the use of low-dose abdominal radiation for the treatment of feline small cell gastrointestinal lymphoma the project stems from the idea that cats loathe visiting the veterinarian as much as they loathe being medicated using pills
if we do radiation and that holds them in remission for eight months theyre not having to get pills and theyre not having to go to the vet clinic as often she said all of a sudden you have happier owners and happier cats even if the cat lives the same amount of time as they would on chemotherapy its still a better quality of life and potentially cost effective
in the other the pair is investigating whole lung irradiation for dogs with osteosarcoma a type of cancer that produces immature bone
doctors used to do whole lung irradiation on children before chemotherapy existed for tumors that arise from the bone; they quit because of the long-term damage the radiation would cause to the lungs in these children and then chemotherapy became the best treatment she said but our dogs are often geriatric theyre not going to have the long-term side effects that happen many years later theyre still dying of this disease so we are investigating how well whole lung irradiation along with chemotherapy may improve outcomes for these dogs
in another of her oncology clinical trials wilson-robles is working with the texas a&m chemistry department to test an older drug previously used in humans for its effect on canine lymphoma
this drug was used for decades to treat tuberculosis in people and researchers found that it actually enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy or radiation therapy she said we are using it right now in lymphoma our hope is to use it in a much broader variety of things the thought being if we use this drug in conjunction with our standard of care do we improve outcomes by making them more sensitive to the drugs at hand
hopefully it will lead to a veterinary product and will be translatable she said preliminary data from our collaborators showed that it makes breast cancer and prostate cancer cell lines more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy so our hope is that by demonstrating this in an actual spontaneous cancer model things will move forward on the human side as well
on the diagnostics side wilson-robles is working to develop a screening test that will help veterinarians better determine if an animal has cancer or inflammation or neither condition
first we need to have a general idea of what to look for with each condition so were simply collecting blood from healthy animals those with cancer and those with inflammation she said its not the be-all end-all but it would help us figure out which way to go when we come to that fork in the road during treatment
the next step is creating tests for specific cancers
while wilson-robless oncology clinical trials span different forms of treatment they all share the same goal
the biggest thing is that we hope to make things better we get sick of losing patients of seeing that 3-year-old dog that we know is probably going to die a year from now from a cancer that has caused so many other deaths she said we realize there may never be a cure-all for cancer maybe instead of completely obliterating cancer we can turn it into a chronic disease
if there are things we can do to at least help push cancer research along a little bit so that we all get better at treating it wed all like to be a part of that in some way
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
over the past decade the texas a&m small animal hospital has worked to increase the number of clinical trials being conducted including a recently established trials core led by dr heather wilson-robles all with the hopes of improving the lives of animals and their humans
when dr heather wilson-robles came to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) in 2007 a few services were conducting clinical trials at the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
but the small animal hospital (sah) did not have the fully immersed trials culture she had experienced during her medical oncology residency at the university of wisconsin
studies conducted under controlled conditions using objective methods of gathering and assessing data take many many years but the process is worth it for researchers trials are critical to the process of developing new drugs procedures and other tools used for treating both pets and humans and many medical breakthroughs have resulted from these studies
when wilson-robles brought her clinical trials experience to texas a&m she became one of the first to conduct a therapeutic trial in her new home service of oncology and aspired to expand that culture within the sah
twelve years later wilson-robles the dr fred a and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology and assistant head of research in the department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs) is working to guide other researchers in the complicated process of preparing conducting and maintaining these trials as the leader of the departments newly created clinical trials core
through this core she and oncology colleague dr emma warry are scheduling trainings for hospital house officers and veterinary technicians who are crucial to the trials process on gaining consent completing documentation and maintaining good clinical practices standards they are also working to increase trials communication across services and to help principal investigators write animal use protocols the documentation required for any researcher working with animals at texas a&m
were really trying to make these support systems more commonplace so that every researcher doesnt have to build a program from the ground up she said
why are clinical trials so important
for wilson-robles the answer is partly personalher dog otis an 11-year-old catahoula mix has directly benefited from experimental therapies for his metastatic hemangiosarcoma a type of cancer that develops from the cells that normally create blood vessels
clinical trials give pet owners like me potential access to medications and therapies we could not access anywhere elsecutting-edge treatments that may not even be available to people yet she said i wouldnt be part of any trial that i would not be willing to enroll my own dog in
the answer also is partly professional
clinical trials really move the needle forward she said disease progresses faster in animals so we can see real benefits in a shorter time which is useful they also give us access to colleagues in human hospitals all of this helps us grow as researchers and scientists
their trials also fulfill the sahs mission of innovative teaching; as residents and students learn about the process and its importance clinicians are not only creating the next generation of researchers but helping budding veterinarians understand how the drugs they use get approved is hugely beneficial wilson-robles said
furthermore clinical trials lead to win-win relationships with external partners when the cvm helps a company conduct a study both benefit
during my residency i saw how my mentors worked with a private company and human cancer researchers to validate a new delivery system for radiation therapy wilson-robles said though the system was created for human use the validation occurred in dogs with nasal tumors this system is now commercially available all over the country at various cancer centers as well as two veterinary institutions including texas a&m for the treatment of cancer in both humans and animals
theres a reason the process for developing and bringing a drug to market is long and arduous
sometimes you can say ‘ive got this great thing that worked well but that is the case only about one time in 100 wilson-robles said
success can be as simple as learning the right way to give a drug say we determine that a drug needs to be given once a week intravenously and at this dose and with these other medications she said when the trial gets to the point of involving humans the researchers can do a much better job of designing it to reduce side effects or increase efficacy which means the study has a better chance of succeeding it also makes the process more efficient financially possibly reducing the cost of the drug later
success also means saving 100 people from getting the wrong dose or the wrong supportive medications or maybe a drug doesnt kill cancer cells but keeps them from spreadingthats still success
clinical trials benefit sick pets by treating them with the newest and most promising medications that one day might also help heal other animals and eventually even humans with the same condition
participation usually means frequent visits to the sah since tests and procedures must be administered in a controlled laboratory setting in order to ensure consistency but pet owners typically receive financial incentives for participation
and as always the animals best interests come first throughout the process an animal may be removed from a clinical trial at any time by either the pets owner or the cvm veterinarian if it is best for the pet
furthermore clinicians follow the strict protocols from the cvm texas a&m and other regulatory organizations
participants are recruited for clinical trials in two waysclinicians often ask sah clients to enroll eligible pets and clinicians also post on the cvms clinical trials website
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
alex golden a december graduate from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) biomedical sciences (bims) masters program has always wanted to be a doctor
while growing up in new jersey golden developed a love for dance theater and the arts and so he decided to combine all of his passions during his undergraduate education at rutgers university by majoring in spanish and double minoring in biology and dance
i originally got into the school of environmental and biological sciences but after talking to the health professions office they said ‘you dont have to be a science major to go to medical school he recalled i wanted to do the dance minor because i have always done artistic endeavors and a lot of theater so i thought that this would be a good break in between my science classes
at rutgers the connection between art and medicine was reinforced as golden participated in a research project on dance therapy and parkinsons disease at rutgers aresty research center
parkinsons disease is a chronic progressive illness that theres no cure for and the disease involves a loss of motor function over time golden said some research has shown that if someone with parkinsons increases their movement repertoire it might slow down the progression of the disease
working with certified movement specialists who were trained through the mark morris dance group in new york golden saw first-hand the benefits that the therapy offered
not all of the people who come into these therapy sessions had parkinsons disease; their caretaker or their spouse would come with them he said everyone danced together and you didnt even know at that point who had parkinsons and who didnt it was a good atmosphere the therapy worked people were happy and it improved quality of life
after graduating from rutgers golden decided to take a year off from school to gain experience as a medical scribe when his family moved to austin he followed and began working at the baylor scott & white medical center in round rock
a scribe goes into the clinical appointments with the physician and types the medical note that is going to be kept on file for the patient golden said the doctor and the patient can have more one-on-one time and the doctor doesnt have to really worry about taking the notes
i learned everything from the legalities of taking a medical note to how a physician should interact with a patient to all the vocabulary and linguistics that are necessarythe specialized language of medicine he said
during his gap year golden applied to medical school but didnt get in leading him to examine his application for any shortcomings deciding that he needed to raise his science gpa he began looking for a masters program to help him accomplish that
i looked at a lot of programs in new york new jersey and pennsylvania golden said i got into every program i applied to
the bims program at texas a&m was the only one i applied to in texas i was a little unsure about it but then after looking into it that changed he said after orientation and talking to a couple of people i knew this program would provide me with the resources i needed to reapply and be successful
luckily the biomedical sciences masters program proved to be the perfect fit for golden
it was really nice to learn about all of the ‘-ologies from a broader spectrum he said theres a lot of comparative anatomy in this program since its at the veterinary school you get a more well-rounded view of things that could exist in the animal kingdom and then how you can extrapolate that into human medicine
the faculty and staff are amazing; theyre very supportive and helpful he said they host everything from social to academic to networking events it really allows you to make of it what you want it to be you just have to take the initiative but they supply you with all the tools
when it came time to begin applying for medical school again golden was pleased to receive an interview invitation for the university of incarnate word in san antonio and then an acceptance only three weeks later
i think the most important part of applying to a professional school is getting the interview golden said getting the gpa and the admission test score is up to the individual and essentially what admissions committees use to screen applicants but the interview is what decides if youre going or not its what sets you apart from other people and i think that this particular masters program helps you get that interview
golden plans to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine which he describes as a holistic approach to medicine that focuses on treating the patient rather than the disease
i feel like my personality and my belief system align more with an osteopathic physician he said ive always been an artsy person so i felt like i never really fit in with more of a typical 100-percent scientific crowd
one of the tenants of osteopathic practice is that disease and pathology arise from a musculoskeletal disorder he said so they do these adjustments manipulations or massages in certain areas of the body to prevent further injury or harm i grew up doing competitive gymnastics so ive always done a lot of things with my body in terms of manipulation and exercise and the musculoskeletal system so i appreciate that aspect of it
he ultimately plans to specialize as an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) a career he fell in love with after shadowing his cousin and her husband both ob-gyns in new jersey
i think a female population is one that i as a gay male would be able to interact with and be received well by the patient golden said i think womens health in general is a field that lacks male support so itd be nice to have another male advocate out there helping women in this
also i feel like since im not going to be able to have kids the traditional way im going to have to look into ivf (in-vitro fertilization) and other non-traditional methods of having children like surrogacy and adoption
though his path to medical school may not have gone exactly as planned golden is thankful for the experiences he has gained along the way and excited to finally begin his medical program
im ready to start my career he said im just excited to actually begin learning so i can practice ive been dreaming about being a doctor forever
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as the colleges newest distinguished professor dr jörg steiner has led the texas a&m gastrointestinal laboratory (gi lab) in making major advancements in veterinary medicine through the development of diagnostic tests
pancreatitiswhen the pancreas becomes inflamed or undergoes structural damageis extremely common in both dogs and cats an estimated 1 out of every 100 dogs and cats are afflicted every year
while a few factors are thought to be associated with pancreatitis including diet (in the case of dogs but not cats) adverse drug reactions and even scorpion stings no one knows exactly what causes it most dogs and cats that experience pancreatitis are adults and miniature schnauzers are predisposed but pancreatitis can happen in any dog and any cat
diagnosing pancreatitis is difficult in part because its symptoms especially in patients with mild diseasepoor appetite weakness and diarrheaare vague and found in many other illnesses
even worse there is currently no treatment
thats true for humans as well as dogs and catstheres no treatment said dr jörg steiner a professor of small animal clinical sciences and director of the gi laboratory at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm)
if you are a human with pancreatitis the medical profession does almost anything to try to save you he said since theres nothing you can do for dogs and cats except try to keep them alive pet owners often think the diagnosis is not that important
but that is changing now veterinarians have a quick and accurate test for diagnosing or ruling out pancreatitis
the pancreas aids digestion by producing several important enzymes including pancreatic lipase an enzyme that breaks down dietary fat in cases of pancreatitis pancreatic lipase is released into the bloodstream
our diagnostic test for pancreatitis was an accident like most good inventions steiner said the goal was to develop a new diagnostic test for gastritis in dogs the idea i had working with my mentor dr david williams was that there would be a lipase made in the stomach and if it could be measured in the blood it would be possible to diagnose gastritis
pancreatic lipase is just one of more than a hundred different lipases swirling around in the body and until steiners breakthrough research it was not possible to measure what was produced from a single organ
steiner and williams began developing a test to identify pancreatic lipase in the blood in 1996 as part of steiners doctoral work at the cvm they finished in 2000 and the test was licensed in 2003 when it was put on the market two years later it became the most accurate method of detecting pancreatitis in dogs
we offered it to veterinarians and probably ran about 50 tests a week steiner said
in 2005 steiner and williams now at the university of illinois collaborated with veterinary giant idexx which has more than 8 000 employees in 175 countries to improve the test and make it more commercially viable
idexx did some studies and bought the license from texas a&m and developed their own more advanced version of it steiner said
the result is the accurate and easy-to-read spec cpl® test that lets veterinarians know if a dog with symptoms of pancreatitis actually has the disease within 24 hours
partnering with industry has produced many mutually beneficial relationships steiner said they have some proprietary knowledge about how to make an assay more stable how to make it more reproducible for example putting our resources together is what led to a much more robust test
now the test is available to veterinarians around the world
i couldnt distribute the test in south africa for example steiner said but wherever idexx has a lab they can run the test it doesnt matter if a veterinarian is in tokyo or sydney or dallasthey get results in just 24 hours now
the collaboration benefits idexx as well
developing and selling the assay started a really tight collaboration where we can help them steiner said we helped them further develop the assay and if they have any issues we detect them its a close collaboration that has helped jump-start many other projects
steiner says whats happened to date is only scratching the surface of whats possible
more recently steiner has been involved in the release of a new drug in japanthe first direct drug for treating canine pancreatitis
im really proud of that even though i didnt do much other than plan some studies he said its exciting that a new drug is on the horizon thats the first ever that shows promise of treating this disease in any species
in recognition of this profound contribution to the profession steiner was recently named a distinguished professor the highest honor texas a&m bestows on its faculty each year only five to seven faculty members out of nearly 5 000 at the university receive this award for impact that changes the course of the profession
what really makes me proud is that im the first clinical investigator thats ever been recognized with this award he said as far as i know only one other veterinarian was recognizeddr ian tizardand he has retired so im the only veterinarian currently at the cvm to have that distinguished title
but the proudest thing is that i would define myself as a clinician scientist for years and years we were always sort of standing in this light of ‘youre not really researchers; youre clinicians writing a few papers here and there to get that recognition means that yes clinician scientists can play a role in the field
but steiners impact does not end there
i love projects that cross boundaries he said often they come about completely by accident
in 2015 steiner attended a lecture in gothenburg sweden about a new proposed treatment for a disease in humans called wilsons disease a genetic condition that causes copper to build up in the liver complications can cause liver failure and kidney problems
dogs get this disease as well but it has another name he said i believe the lecturer didnt know about that we started talking and it turns out that the new drug they developed was found to work phenomenally well in rats but you cant just give it to humans because you need a step in between dogs were a fantastic model for him to use
in rats the drug was found to remove every molecule of copper from the liver within seven days if it is similarly successful in dogs it could perhaps change the way humans with the disease are treated
steiner is confident that the college will continue to pave the way in discovery and innovation for animal and human health
i have been at the cvm for 22 years and every time i visit another university all i can say is ‘texas a&m is the golden land he said the stars are aligned we have the best dean and department chair and associate department chairs that weve ever had we have the freedom to be innovative
we have the facilities think about itwhich veterinary school has a $126 million building for teaching he said also referring to the renovations his gi lab recently underwent we do! i dont know any other university that has added so many faculty positions in the last 10 years its very fertile groundand a lot of fun!
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
while there are two other bear thymoma cases noted in veterinary literature judge lady is the first to be treated with tomotherapy a system found at only one other veterinary school in the us
judge sue lady sloan is no ordinary american black bear
in waco lady holds a distinguished role as one of baylor universitys two live animal mascots
she also has the luxury of regular veterinary care from zoological specialists at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
when these veterinary specialists discovered a benign mass called a thymoma in ladys chest they teamed up with other vmth services to deliver a course of treatment never before used on a bearstereotactic body radiation therapy using the tomotherapy system
this treatment has the potential to completely stop the tumors growth while also preserving the 17-year-old bears quality of life which is the utmost goal of both her veterinarians and her care team from baylor
lady was diagnosed with her thymoma in summer 2019 when she arrived in college station for a routine checkup with cvm professor emerita dr sharman hoppes
for a checkup of a large animal like this we do a full workup including blood work physical exam under anesthesia and imaging said associate professor dr j jill heatley zoological medicine specialist who joined the case later that summer based on numerous radiographs we found this mass in the chest gwendolyn levine one of the radiologists got a really good sample and one of our clinical pathology specialists told us told us its an epithelial inclusive thymoma
when plans for treatment began heatley recruited dr lauren smith cvm clinical assistant professor and radiation oncologist to figure out the best way to deliver precise effective treatment to ladys tumor which was already larger than a softball
only two other cases of thymomas in bears exist in veterinary literature one of which was found after the bear had died and the other was only found after the bear began showing signs that something was wrong
the good news for lady is that shes completely asymptomatic; she has no clinical signs of the mass which means that we caught it early smith said early detection is key with cancer being able to intervene at an early point is why we have a very positive outlook for her
they decided that ladys best treatment option was stereotactic body radiation therapy which uses many beams of high-energy photons to deliver large doses of radiation to the tumor and spare surrounding tissues
although there is no record of this form of treatment ever being used on a bear smith said it was a good patient-based treatment option because it allowed lady to go home between treatments and avoid complications side effects or risks associated with surgery
this treatment plan allows lady to spend as little time in the hospital as possible and keeps her quality of life first as well as gives her the best chance moving forward smith said
to apply this form of radiation therapy lady would need to be anesthetized and placed inside the tomotherapy system a unique technology that is only used in veterinary medicine in one other hospital in the world
what makes tomotherapy unique is that we treat these tumors in a slice-by-slice fashion smith said we get millions of opportunities to get a dose into the tumor while avoiding normal tissues; it allows us to have much better and more conformal plans and much tighter doses of distributions to the tumor itself where tomotherapy shines in cancer treatment across the world is treating tumors with complex shapes and geometries
ladys tumor is sitting right up in front of the heart and between the lungs so were trying to get really high ablative doses to kill this tumor while its sitting in between those fairly sensitive important structures she said tomotherapy allows us that opportunity to still treat aggressively with these cancers while maintaining good quality of life this is probably the first large exotic animal treated with tomotherapy
tomotherapy offers another benefit in that it has onboard ct imaging capabilities; during ladys three doses of treatment the ct scanner was used to make sure she was in the exact same position every day
tomotherapy allows us to compare the original ct scan with the ct scan of the day to make sure she aligns to the sub-millimeter so that were delivering treatment as precisely as possible smith said
during her treatments lady was accompanied and supported by baylor students in the baylor bear program and dakota farquhar-caddell associate director of student activities and the robert l reid director of the baylor chamber of commerce
we say in the animal husbandry world that all animals deserve as many good days as possible farquhar-caddell said my hope is that we keep giving lady the best days we can while shes with us and that we do so in a way that isnt stressful or invasive but that really helps keep her healthy and happy
we are really lucky to be this close to texas a&m he said the care has been exceptional i have direct contact with many of the staff on a daily basis; they reach out to me after we get home checking in on how lady is doing weve had great communication and conversation with them and were really thankful
with her three radiation doses now complete lady will return to her home at the bill and eva williams bear habitat in waco a us department of agriculture certified class c zoo facility that provides lady and her sister joy with a natural environment full of enrichment
joy and lady are a beloved part of our community and were just really grateful that we have excellent care and access to resources and the ability to care for them well farquhar-caddell said in some ways we see our bears as ambassadors for other american black bears they have probably the largest platform any black bear has in the country so we use it to educate the community and for important conservation efforts
likewise ladys case will educate veterinarians around the world on the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy and tomotherapy to treat difficult tumors
by focusing on her quality of life and finding an innovative way to treat her thymoma ladys veterinarians and baylor care team have taken a monumental step forward in the veterinary care of large exotic animals
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when texas a&m veterinary student brianna armstrong teamed up with animal science major stephanie young the sky became the limit
texas a&m student stephanie youngs mantra is let them tell me no
perhaps thats because the one time young almost took no for an answer it came from herself
she had just earned third place in the biomedical engineering division of the state science fair on a project for which she had created a canine-vitals monitoring device
after the competition it was suggested that she patent her idea but being somewhat disappointed in the results which made her believe people werent really interested in a device created by a high schooler she cut what she saw as her losses and moved on to become an animal science major at texas a&m with hopes of becoming an aggie veterinarian
her perspective changed though when dr glennon mays texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) director of recruiting and student services talked to her class one day following his talk she approached mays and over the course of the conversation told him about her invention skypaws
i didnt expect to tell him about it i remember arguing with myself in line i was like ‘this is stupid young recalled thinking i dont know if yall believe in a higher power but i believe in god and i believe he was sitting there telling me ‘you need to tell him
and so she did
mays encouraged young to participate in the cvms veterinary entrepreneurship academy (vea) a program that brings together veterinary students academic institutions startup partners and veterinary practices from across the country to accelerate animal heath innovation and empower the next generation of veterinary practitioners
though not quite a veterinary student she was offered the opportunity to participate in the vea last summer through that experience she found both encouragement and the person who would become her partnerthird-year veterinary student (at the time) brianna armstrong; she also began to reevaluate the internal no she had given herself regarding skypaws
early iterations of skypaws (now formally skypaws llc) named after youngs initials included a clip that connected to the webbing between the toes on an animals paw
when armstrong came on board the pair began refining the device and the patent-pending version now allows veterinarians to monitor their patients heart rates respiration temperatures and other vital signs by lying the sensor against the animals skin
skypaws eliminates the wires and condenses all of the sensors down into one device this creates less hassle for the veterinarian and the technician and it allows for remote instant access to your patients vitals armstrong said the vitals are live-streamed across our website or application which can be accessed anywhere within the facility by the veterinarian so they dont have to be patient-side in order to see whats going on with the patients vitals
the idea for skypaws stemmed from an experience young had while working at the college avenue animal clinic in her hometown of levelland texas
during one shift a dog named charlie underwent a routine surgical procedure the surgery went well without any complications so the hospital staff called charlies owner to inform her that she could pick him up at the end of the day before that could happen though charlie died
the veterinary hospital was so busy that day and his vitals were fine so we put charlie in the kennel and decided to check on him every once in a while to make sure that he was doing ok young said not five minutes later i was mopping the facility and i happened to walk by and notice that charlie was unusually still knowing that something was off i called the veterinary technician over and charlie wasnt breathing at that moment the whole clinic flew into a frenzy they did everything they could but sadly charlie didnt make it
one of the hardest things was talking to the owner saying that her dog charlie who was going to go home to her family and had been doing just fine wasnt young said that whole time i was wondering if there was a way that we could monitor these patients better without just leaving them in the kennel and hoping that theyre still breathing
skypaws was born that day she said
when the vea renewed her enthusiasm for the project young began exploring fundraising opportunities; while attending a conference she came across an ideas competition that paid a top prize of $10 000the caveat however was that only veterinary students could apply for the competition
seeking out advice she went to vea mentor dr aaron wallace co-founder of lacuna diagnostics who was also at the conference
i went over to his booth and told him i wanted to apply for this ideas competition but it says in big bold letters ‘for vet school students only young said dr wallace goes ‘stephanie youre in the vea and thats for vet school students only let them tell you no because thats the worst that could happen
with just three days before the application deadline young gave it a shot and asked armstrong to join the team
when stephanie came to me with her idea and was asking me if i would be interested in being a part of skypaws in the competition i thought why not because one i really love entrepreneurship and two i would now have a partner who can help me get this going armstrong said it ended up working out really well; were great partners in that we kind of balance each other out as far as personality types go so it ended up being a really great partnership
the pair spent the next eight months engrossed in preparationconstructing a prototype creating a business plan and countless videos to explain the product completing market research that included interviewing veterinarians and developing and refining their pitch
this past march they traveled to athens georgia for the contest and won since then theyve also won an additional $10 000 at the veterinary innovation summits startup competition
almost better than the money is the validation the pair has received for their product
the feedback we have received is that skypaws is incredible its where the industry is going and that people love our passion and hope we are the ones to do it first armstrong said its just been really positive and really uplifting to see that what were doing what we believe in so many other people also believe in thats always a really good feeling
a number of practicing veterinarians with whom armstrong and young have talked about skypaws have expressed interest in helping test the prototypes once theyre created including dr sonya gordon a cardiologist in the cvms small animal hospital
the development of this kind of device that is small and easy to use will facilitate the diagnosis and management of heart failure in companion animals gordon said an all-in device that can provide longitudinal information from pets in their home environment with minimal stress would play an important role in managing a variety of diseases both clinically and in research studies and also as a monitoring tool in hospital situations
as armstrong completes her fourth-year clinical rotations and young her junior year the pair will keep looking for the next yes that will help them make their dream a reality
we hope to hit market within three years a lot of people want us to hit market a lot sooner than that and i think with the appropriate funding we might be able to were currently working with engineers who are students and well definitely have a device within a year that well put in the hands of some veterinarians to start testing armstrong said so im being cautious and saying i think in three years we might be ready
for more information on skypaws visit wwwskypawsdevicecom
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr mahsa zarei a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has identified a new therapeutic approach to treating tuberous sclerosis complex (tsc) a rare multi-systemic genetic disease that can cause tumors and cancers
a complex genetic disorder tsc is characterized by tumor growth in the brain heart kidney skin and lungs affected individuals may also present with seizures the disorder is caused by a mutation in either the tsc1 or tsc2 protein resulting in loss of function of the protein
in a new study published in the journal of experimental medicine zarei and her team of researchers expand on previous research investigating the efficacy of thz1 a cancer drug in shrinking tsc related tumors by investigating how it works at a molecular level
prior to zareis discovery tsc-related tumors were treated with rapamycin which is in a class of drugs called rapologs which are effective in shrinking tsc-related tumors; however if the patient stopped taking the drug their tumors grew back
they are good drugs; the only problem with this treatment is that the patient has to be on this treatment forever so lifelong therapy is necessary to prevent reoccurrence of symptoms zarei said we were interested in finding therapies for tsc patients that induce a selective cytocidal response in tsc-deficient cells and kill the tumor so it doesnt regrow
zarei and her team began their research by treating tsc-deficient patients samples with thz1 which inhibits cdk7 a cell division protein involved in a pathway that encourages tumor growth this drug has previously been used to treat different types of cancers such as triple negative breast cancer ovarian cancer and glioblastoma
using crispr gene-editing and rna sequence analysis zarei and her team were able to determine that this drug affects the way the diseased cell expresses its genes this change in expression is beneficial as it discourages expression of genes that support tumor growth
even more interestingly zarei they found that thz1 only interferes with gene expression in diseased cellsthose deficient in tsc
zarei and her group then compared the effect of thz1 on tumors with rapamycin the former standard of treatment both thz1 and rapamycin effectively reduced tumor volume
when we stopped the treatment and we looked at the tumor growth with the rapamycin treatment group you can see after one week that the tumors started growing (back) zarei said but in the thz1 treatment group there was a marked reduction in tumor volume and the tumors didnt grow back
to confirm their results the group repeated similar experiments in a different model again both the rapamycin and thz1 reduced tumor size but thz1s effects lasted even after the tissue was not being actively treated with the drug
in this study zarei explains the molecular basis behind these phenomena uncovering the way thz1 inhibits cdk7 to reduce glutathione levels glutathione can play a pathogenic role in relation to cancer as it makes tumor cells more resistant to treatment and cell-death pathways as such reducing the amount of glutathione in an animal makes that individuals body less hospitable to tumors and cancerous growths
though rapamycin is a valid treatment option for tsc this lifelong regimen of medication can be taxing both mentally and financially; zareis research will allow individuals suffering from this debilitating condition to be treated more effectively and will provide them with the opportunity to move on from their disease
we are introducing a new paradigm that targeting transcription may be an effective therapeutic strategy to abrogate tumor growth and recurrence in tsc patients zarei said thz1 derivatives (sy-1365) are already in early phase human clinical trials (by syros pharmaceuticals) this suggests that assessment of the benefit of this treatment approach will be available for tsc patients in the near future
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
cvm veterinary students give back to the bryan/college station community by creating a programto help local domestic abuse victimsand their pets
years of research has made it clear that there is a strong link between animal abuse and domestic violence
according to past research by faculty members of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) 71 percent of battered women reported that their abusers threatened or harmed their pets as well usually in an effort to gain control over the victim in addition 40 percent of those women delayed escaping an abusive situation if it meant leaving a pet behind
to help both these women and their pets a group of cvm students have created aggies fostering hope a program that has the potential to improve and possibly even save the lives of local women suffering from domestic abuse by providing them with a safe temporary home for their pets
the program was created by fourth-year veterinary student hunter greer and was further developed by a group of third-year students led by melodie raese and jamie foster for the veterinarians impacting their community course a unique learning opportunity for cvm students
taught by dr glennon mays director of recruiting and student services and clinical associate professor and dr jordan tayce instructional assistant professor the class incorporates the texas a&m core values into the dvm professional program curriculum by encouraging students to find innovative ways to combine community service and veterinary medicine
while researching the link between animal abuse and domestic violence greer raese and foster discovered that many of the safe houses for battered women are not able to take in animals
aggies fostering hope is a three-pronged approach to this problem raese said the first is fostering and medical care for the animals of women who are fleeing domestic violence
collaborating with the texas a&m health promotion office the students are working to secure agreements with both the college station and bryan police departments to transport pets to safety when helping a woman leave an abusive situation
the police will take the animals to the texas a&m small animal hospital (sah) for any necessary medical treatment and then a foster will provide a safe home until the owner and pets can be reunited
the second prong involves public information both about the program itself and about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence
according to the national link coalition pet abuse is one of the most significant indicators of future domestic abuse
the third prong of this program is informing veterinarians because 75 percent of the animals that are in abusive homes are being seen by veterinarians raese said more than likely there is a chance that there are signs that are just not being observed or recognized there are ways for veterinarians to intervene to help these women and these animals
the idea for this program originally came from greer and dr karen cornell cvm associate dean for professional programs who then collaborated with raese and foster to further develop the program as a class project
cornell had previously worked with dr kate creevy the mark a chapman chair in shelter and companion animal health to create the university of georgias version of this program vets for pets and people now at the cvm they both serve as mentors for aggies fostering hope
greer said her inspiration for the program arose when she was an undergraduate volunteering at phoebes home the bryan/college station safe house for women fleeing domestic abuse
after learning about the link between domestic violence and pet abuse in the cvm curriculum i learned that veterinarians have the ability to impact the community beyond the clinic doors greer said with the known challenges of our profession i believe dedicating time to helping others provides a newfound gratitude for our own stresses
the veterinarians impacting their community course began with each student creating an original community service idea the top 10 of which were chosen and developed into full projects to be presented to a panel of judges at the end of the semester
as the first-place winner aggies fostering hope is now in the process of becoming a fully functional program
the sah has agreed to contribute by offering discounted prices for the care of animals brought in through the program and boehringer ingelheim will provide vaccinations and antiparasitic medications for the animals
we also have agreements with purina to supply the food for the dogs cats or any animals that are brought into this program raese said
in addition greer raese and foster succeeded in adding aggies fostering hope to the college station student american veterinary medical association (savma) constitution which will ensure that there is always an elected student official in charge of the project
we had put a program similar to this in place back in 2013 but without the students and contacts on campus the program did not flourish said dr stacy eckman clinical associate professor the vision and momentum of the students will enable aggies fostering hope to be a more successful program
raese and foster both members of savma plan to continue their involvement with the project during their time at the cvm after graduation raese will go into service as a us army veterinarian and foster plans to do veterinary mission work around the world
we need people who are passionate about this project to make it work so i will be involved in whatever way i am needed foster said my real hope is to see other students hear about the project and have the desire to join in
the final steps to get aggies fostering hope up and running involve developing solid protocols with the many organizations that have agreed to partner on this project including the sah the bryan and college station police departments phoebes home and corporate sponsors
we would really like it to be in place by this fall; we hope to see its longevity and make sure that its in place and doesnt fade raese said this is a project that i think needs to be taken hold of and really nurtured to grow
thanks to dedicated cvm students and faculty members aggies fostering hope will be providing an invaluable resource to local pet lovers and giving future classes of cvm veterinary students a great way to serve their community
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications media & public relations texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when a houston police dog named t-rex was given an uncommon cancer diagnosis cvm surgical oncologist brandan wustefeld-janssens stepped in to save his life and get him back on his feet
houston police department officer paul foster has worked with his four-legged k9 partner a belgian malinois named t-rex for four years
we go out every night and hunt down the bad guys who run foster has said adding that since t-rex has come aboard the duo has captured more than 100 bad guys
but when foster noticed t-rex limping a few months ago a veterinarian gave him some bad newsbone canceran especially common diagnosis in larger breeds like t-rex
while treatments are available they have many side effects and the prognosis is generally grim as the cancer often spreads quickly throughout the body
thats when foster brought t-rex to the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital (sah) and dr brandan wustefeld-janssens
i have always been interested in oncology and the unique challenges it presents us as veterinarians said wustefeld-janssens an assistant professor of surgical oncology the opportunity to provide comfort and hope to our patients and their families is very rewarding
he earned a veterinary degree at the university of pretoria in south africa and then completed an internship and surgical residency at the university of liverpool in the united kingdom
in 2017 wustefeld-janssens came to texas a&m after finishing an elite fellowship in surgical oncology at colorado state university making him one of just two fellowship-trained surgical oncologists in texas he also is a diplomate of the european college of veterinary surgeons and a recognized specialist in surgical oncology with the royal college of veterinary surgeons
i knew of texas a&m from my student days and texas appealed to my wife and me since it is so similar to south africa where we grew up wustefeld-janssens said as luck would have it the university was looking to expand the oncology team to include a surgical oncologist the rest as they say is history
also appealing is that the cvm has a state-of-the art radiation therapy unit with outstanding radiation oncologists
this allows us to deliver radiation very accurately in a way that cannot be matched with other machines he said we are currently exploring ways to use this advanced technology to extend survivals in cancers that spread to the lungs we also are looking at ways to produce custom made 3d-printed implants to reconstruct bone defects after cancer surgery
wustefeld-janssens said t-rex was typical in the presentation of his cancer but received an uncommon diagnosis
bone cancer is typical in large or giant breed dogs and is located in a long bone near the knee he said most oftenabout 85 percent of the timethese types of tumors are osteosarcoma
but it turns out that t-rex had something else: a low-grade chondrosarcomaa tumor of the cartilagewhich has a very good prognosis
this was great news since the more common osteosarcoma has a poor overall survival rate of just 15 to 20 percent at two years wustefeld-janssens said
given the grade and type of tumor he presented t-rex didnt need chemotherapy; instead wustefeld-janssens and his team amputated the affected leg and saved his life
t-rex hardly seemed to notice
he dragged the student working on his case out the front door of the hospital the very next day! wustefeld-janssens said i am always blown away how amazing dogs are they can recover so quickly from a fairly large surgery that would take a person months to recover from
cancer develops spontaneously in dogs just like in people and our pets are often exposed to similar environmental risk factors as those associated with cancer in people wustefeld-janssens said some cancers in dogs are indistinguishable from the same disease in people when the cells are looked at under the microscope
while cancer in a pet is scary there is always something that can be done
many people are surprised to find out not only that dogs get cancer but that many of the techniques and methods we use are identical to those used with people wustefeld-janssens said
thats why his group focuses on translational research and the unique opportunities that canine patients provide to study a disease so similar to that found in humans
producing quality research and providing world-class cutting-edge service to canine patients required a similar financial investment to that needed for centers for human patients he said
but the results of this investment are promising
we are developing new treatment targets for difficult cancers like osteosarcoma and lymphoma wustefeld-janssens said and the research pioneered in dogs is being taken over to clinical trials in kids with the same cancers
the technology and techniques used to study the molecular mechanisms of cancer are significantly more available and more cost effective than they used to be he said we hope to have a better understanding of the molecular drivers of canine cancer soon so we can come up with new and innovative ways to treat cancer at the molecular level
meanwhile t-rex is back on the job in houston this time sniffing out explosives and as a demonstration dog rather than chasing bad guys
giving him a purpose and giving him something to do i think will help with his rehabilitation foster said when t-rex left the hospital
wustefeld-janssens agrees
the cvm is one of very few hospitals in the united states that has a fully integrated clinical team he said this means the traditional subspecialties in oncologymedical radiation and surgicalwork together on every case and make comprehensive treatment plans that offer the best chance for a good outcome allow us to be innovative in treatment and integrate cutting-edge clinical trials
patients like t-rex would no doubt agree
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr ivan rusyn texas a&m university professor in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) has completed service as chair of the international agency for research on cancer (iarc) monographs working group on the identification of carcinogenic hazards to humans (volume 125): some industrial chemical intermediates and solvents
the iarc is the specialized cancer agency of the world health organization (who) tasked with promoting international collaboration in cancer research
the iarc monographs program identifies environmental factors that are carcinogenic hazards to humans including chemicals complex mixtures occupational exposures physical agents biological agents and lifestyle factors
national health agencies can use this information as scientific support for their actions to prevent exposure to potential carcinogens
iarc monographs are developed by the interdisciplinary working groups of expert scientists who review the published studies and assess the strength of the available evidence that an agent can cause cancer in humans since 1971 more than 1 000 agents have been evaluated of which more than 400 have been identified as carcinogenic probably carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic to humans
in november 2019 a working group of 13 scientists from eight countries met at iarc in lyon france to finalize their evaluation of the carcinogenicity of five high production volume chemicals: glycidyl methacrylate 1-butyl glycidyl ether 1-bromo-3-chloropropane 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride and allyl chloride their findings have been reported in the lancet oncology these assessments will be published in volume 125 of the iarc monographs
the iarc monographs are a product of systematic reviews of the evidence in humans and experimental systems rusyn said these documents and carcinogenic hazard evaluations serve important role in cancer prevention importantly volume 125 working group was applying recently amended evaluation procedures that are outlined in the preamble to the monographs that place mechanistic evidence on par with the evidence from studies in humans and experimental animals
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
amy gulick a third-year veterinary student in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) might spend her days learning about hard-science topics such as anatomy and biochemistry but at heart she is a self-described storyteller
to me every disease has a story it has a beginning then it has a progression and then it has an outcome which is hopefully good the lubbock native said what interests me about medicine is that its about trying to understand ‘what is the story behind this patient
gulicks narrative instincts might come from her parents who also see the world in stories
my mom is an english teacher and my dad is a journalist and editor so it was instilled in me reading is just as natural as breathing in my family gulick said my dad is always asking ‘whats the story behind this if he ever wants to know something he doesnt just say ‘so whatd you do with your friends he says ‘so whats the story behind your time with your friends
in high school gulick followed her passion for storytelling to the world of broadcast journalism working on a student news program with channel 12 a local television station
i started out doing man-on-the-street type interviews it was really fun she said i got to go to our local fair and interview people and to elementary schools and interview kids it was so fun; i loved that
though gulick felt more strongly pulled to the world of veterinary medicine she still credits her experiences with broadcast journalism as being formative
i feel like i had more poise and comfort in my veterinary school interview than i would have had i not been in broadcast journalism and had those experiences gulick said it gave me interpersonal skills when you interview people you hopefully learn how to talk to people and how to listen to them i think i really grew in that area
these strong communication skills have benefited gulick in many areas from the technical to the creative
i love to write of course writing for broadcast journalism is very different than scientific technical-type writing gulick said i do a little fiction writing on the side for fun too but i love it all i love to tell stories and i think thats what youre doing with a scientific paper is youre saying ‘heres the background of this disease
in veterinary school gulick indulges her scientific interests as well
i love studying pathology and the course of disease and helping to understand that more i also really love how animal behavior interrelates with disease gulick said
before veterinary school gulick earned her masters degree in animal science from texas tech university there gulick was exposed to the world of scientific research by studying a respiratory condition affecting cattle at high-altitudes
i studied a disease called brisket disease in cattle gulick said for my masters degree i investigated some pieces of the puzzle that are contributing to affected animals going into heart failure from this condition
in cows suffering from brisket disease reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes cause their arteries to thicken which decreases the internal diameter of their arteries and subsequently increases blood pressure within their lungs this makes it more difficult for the cows heart to pump blood and can eventually cause heart failure
through research gulick has been able to connect her passion for animal health with her affinity for storytelling after graduating veterinary school she hopes to carry this passion into a career in academia
i definitely think that my background in journalism has contributed to my love of research gulick said
gulick believes that her non-traditional background gives her an advantage in her path to becoming a veterinarian
i think my experience gives me a really interesting and different perspective than a lot of my peers some of them come from a family where everybody for the last 50 years has been a veterinarian which is super cool gulick said but my experience gives me a different perspective which is also really neat
gulick insists that she is not the only veterinary student with a creative side however
theres really so much diversity within veterinary medicine gulick said people here have amazing and diverse talents we have ballet dancers in our class we have singers we have competitive swimmers we have people with an amazing array of talents i think its so inspiring to be able to share space with people like that and to hopefully contribute some interesting things of my own to our diverse field
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr ivan rusyn texas a&m university professor in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) has been appointed to the board on environmental studies and toxicology (best) within the division on earth and life studies of the national academies of sciences engineering and medicine
the mission of best is to provide our nation with independent objective advice and dialog on matters related to the impacts of human activities and environmental exposures on environmental quality and human health best aids the federal government by evaluating environmental management options developing visions and strategies for scientific research conducting and reviewing chemical assessments and more
rusyn who also serves as director of the texas a&m superfund research center and chairs the texas a&m interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology will work with his fellow board members to address scientific and technical issues of relevance to study sponsors and the nation
rusyns expertise in areas including toxicology and environmental sciences will be highly valuable to best which typically addresses topics such as air and water pollution; solid and hazardous waste; toxicology; epidemiology; risk assessment; and environmental engineering economics law and policy rusyns appointment will last for three years until nov 30 2022
i am humbled and honored to be invited to serve on best says rusyn the board plays a critical role in coordinating and directing a number of other committees and activities at the academies that weigh in on some of the most impactful environmental and human health decisions
the national academies of sciences engineering and medicine are private nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world by helping shape sound policies inform public opinion and advance the pursuit of science engineering and medicine
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
for years betsy overholser has been treating vmth personnel with homemade baked goods; now shes treating the hospital and the students who learn there through planned gifts
like the delicious gingersnaps she bakes betsy overholsers personality has some extra spice to it
the wonderful blend of spicy and sweet is so predominant in overholser (and her cookies) it inspired the bryan texas blackwater draw brewing company to name one of their craft beers after her; since then the brewery has held several betsys brew-ha-has that bring overholsers closest friends to the establishment for an evening of laughter and dammit betsy chocolate coffee porters
among those attendees are faculty and staff members from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
thats because overholser who lives three hours away in arlington has a warm spot in her heart for the cvm and vmth and the feeling is mutualpractically everyone in the small animal hospital (sah) knows her name and looks forward to her visits and not just because overholsers trips to college station bring with her little bags of her homemade treats delivered to her friends all around the vmth as the doctors examine her pet
the sah has taken care of overholsers shetland sheepdog kate of hepburnnamed after the enigmatic actressfor the past seven years and in return overholser is now taking care of the sah and its people through the recent establishment of a scholarship for a veterinary student
everyone goes out of their way here she said lucy wendt (a former sah veterinary technician) made every person who walked into that clinic feel like theyre the only person on earth its awesome
when overholser got kate as a 14-week-old puppy she immediately knew kate was special
shes from a litter of eight and has an identical twin; they were born in the same sack overholser said she was so gorgeous and had such personality i thought shes kind of like the movie star she had a lot of snap
kate is super smart and shes biddableshes always worked to please me she said i had a little cairn terrier and a terriers disposition is ‘you want me to do what didnt we do that three weeks ago but kate said ‘how many times do you want me to do it kate and i competed in agility for over 10 years and she was unstoppable; it was all or nothing when we competed
in 2012 overholser learned from her local veterinarian that kate had fat deposits in her eyes ironically overholser had lost her cairn terrier to an eye issue and decided to bring kate to texas a&m
since then the hospital has played a critical role in caring for kate
when she was diagnosed with protein loss enteropathy an atypical manifestation of diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract and inflammatory bowel disease it was the work of three sah employees that ultimately saved her lifedr greg kuhlman a veterinary specialist who now works in albuquerque discovered the disorder; dr kelley thieman mankin as assistant professor of soft tissue surgery performed the laparoscope adrenal gland removal; and dr amy savarino vmth pharmacist advised on the medications that would make this all work
texas a&m saved kates life and i suspect there are very few other colleges in the nation with the same caliber of expertise we found here overholser said kelly thieman really is one of the best in the nation
kate has also been treated for cancer at the sahshes been in remission for two yearsand sees dr lucien vallone a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology for eyesight loss associated with aging
my dog has better health care than i do overholser joked
kates condition requires her to visit vmth specialists regularly so every three months overholser and kate make the drive to the sah
i love this place not just because of how theyve cared for kate but because of the people i met here she said this is like coming home for me i cant wait to get here every time we visit
the gingersnaps she bakes for those who work in the hospital led to the first betsys brew-ha-ha
i was sitting at blackwater draw waiting for the hospital to call for me to get heri didnt even like beerand i said ‘i think ive got cookies that go with this coffee beer youve got she said its because of that and all those thousands of cookies i made for the kids here now its history
a signature beer was not the only thing that has come from overholsers many trips to college station
though now an honorary aggie overholser grew up all over the world as the child of a government employee
we moved 30 times all over the country my fathers job allowed us to stay as long as we wanted wherever we were so we traveled all over multiple states and even japan she said i went to elementary school in san antonio and we went to alaska from san antonio
she attended college at stephens college in missouri before completing her degree at the university of alaska earned her graduate degree at texas christian university and did post-graduate work at the university of north texas
she went on to teach second through sixth grade for five years and then at a community college for 40 (its worth noting that five students from her first sixth-grade class traveled to bryan to attend her last brew-ha-ha in april)
but it was the connection to the veterinary students at the sah that endeared overholser to texas a&m her loyalty can now be witnessed through the aggie bandana kate often dons much to the chagrin of her tcu alumni friends
nobody can believe it im just an aggie to the core i see a car with an a&m sticker on it and i start honking and waving she said a friend said ‘youve got to stop that they may not know why youre doing that but i feel such a strong connection with this place i cant help myself im maroon to the core!
her connection with the studentsand with cvm development officers chastity carrigan dr bubba woytek and formerly eliana brownis the reason she established the betsy overholser endowed scholarship which will support a student pursuing a doctor of veterinary medicine degree and has an interest in small animal orthopedics or cardiology
overholser also has provisions in her estate to support the cvm after her lifetime her wish is to augment the endowed scholarship she created and support the colleges clinical skills laboratory which better prepares students for their veterinary careers
overholser views her gifts as a form of repayment for all that the sah has done to help heal kate and as a tribute to the bright young people she met over the years
part of the charm of the small animal hospital is getting to know the students overholser said when i come to town i make a point to take a couple of the fourth-year students out to dinner to get to know them better and thank them for their hard work hearing their stories inspired me to start this scholarship and inspires me to do more
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the small animal hospital treats its share of special patients but when oncologists treated an 8-year-old australian labradoodle named bullet they found a dog with its own healing touch
like all aggies bullets purpose has always been to live a life of selfless service
when owner leslie staven received the now 8-year-old australian labradoodle at 8 weeks of age it was for the purpose of training bullet to detect for life-threatening peanut allergies
little did staven know then that bullet would go on to save more people in many more ways than anyone could have ever imagined and then in turn would need the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) small animal hospital (sah) to be saved
bullet wasnt intended to spend his life with staven
as a specially trained service dog he had been sent to live with several children afflicted with peanut allergies but those children werent dog people so it never worked out
but then staven noticed something about bullet while he had been trained to sniff out foods he was instead sniffing out people in need
she first noticed it when they were around children with autism bullet would lead staven to a child who would always assume the same positionwith the child essentially coming nose to nose with bulletand they would just stare at each other
id say something to the child to the effect of ‘hey whats your name and invariably an adult would come in and say ‘he doesnt speak; he has autism staven said i study psychology and have had a lot of experience with people with special needs so i developed a way to speak through bullet to the child what ended up happening was this child who did not speak always answered
one child who had never said anything in his life reached up touched bullet and said ‘fuzzy at which point the family all just bawled staven said
in another encounter bullet was attracted to a child who only spoke four or five words primarily to verbalize his own needs staven introduced the child to bullet and said ‘bullet wonders if you have a dog
the boy said ‘no so i responded ‘thats cool bullet wonders if you have any animals she said at this point he said ‘yeah i have a hamster its name is squeak and he went on for 45 minutes conversing back and forth with the dog never looked at me never looked at the father
children arent the only ones touched by bullet
on several occasions both in classrooms and in public bullet has detected someone suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)-related flashback each time bullet has approached the veteran has wrapped his arms around the dog and bullet has placed his front legs over the veterans shoulders as if offering a hug tears usually fall and then each veteran tells staven that bullet brought me home
even more incredibly one day while staven was taking classes at a university bullet began to venture toward a young man
the next thing i knew bullet was in the boys seat with his legs over the boys shoulders and his head on his chest staven said i jumped up to apologize and the boy told me he wanted bullet to stay they sat in that position for 20 minutes
weeks later my professor called me in she told me she shouldnt divulge what she was about to tell me but that boy later came to her on that morning he had loaded a gun and planned to kill himself staven said for some reason he decided to go to his first class and if anyone noticed or cared about him he would go to a mental health clinic if no one did he would return to his dorm and kill himself bullet saved his life he said he had never felt so much peace
the stories go on and on bullets facebook page (i smell trouble – allergen alert dogs) is littered with photos and stories from interactions as a service dog who travels with staven bullet routinely has these encounters with random people who always need his help
luckily when bullet needed help the sah was there
in april staven was giving bullet a pill when she saw a little bump on the inside of his mouth she took bullet to her veterinarian an aggie who determined that the spot was probably a squamous cell carcinoma
staven had worked at the sah years before and knowing some of the clinicians she decided texas a&m was the only place i want to go
thats why i came here because its the best she said
under the care of dr brandan wustefeld-janssens an assistant professor of surgical oncology bullet underwent a procedure to remove pieces of the gum and because the cancer had grown into the underlying bone the section of his upper jaw containing his canine and incisor teeth had to be removed too
bullets is a type of cancer that we often see in the mouths of dogs and cats theyre generally locally invasive and with a complete surgical removal they can have a good long-term outcome wustefeld-janssens said cosmetically he looks slightly differenthis nose droops down a littlebut thats the only change you can notice
while wustefeld-janssens said the type of cancer bullet was treated for is quite common bullet himself is not
we see a lot of therapy dogs and emotional support dogs and we as a group feel very strongly about helping them especially those who help military veterans and those with ptsd wustefeld-janssens said
bullets story though is very unusual he said but dogs are way more intelligent than we are anyway there are dogs that are trained to pick up on if your blood glucose level is low; if youre diabetic theyll tell you to eat it makes sense that he picks up some kind of emotional distress but theres no way to explain it
hes obviously very intuitive and picks up cues that we dont notice so he is a special dog
when bullet has had an emotional encounter with someone in need he is visibly changed for a period of time afterward staven has compared what she witnesses with bullet to the character in the green mile who absorbs all the evil
anytime bullets had a highly emotional encounter he gets exhausted completely wiped out staven said he changes but so do the people in a positive way
while bullets recovery time can range from hours to days staven believes bullet remembers long past his recovery
she recalls when bullet accompanied her to a gathering of native american tribes in montana through the crowd bullet spotted and approached a very old native american man in a wheelchair and then suddenly stopped putting his feet on the arms of the wheelchair the man began to chant
bullet stood unwavering and a small group of people began to circle around us as the man began to touch bullets face in a pattern staven said nose to nose the man sat and bullet stood and then silence the only english words the man spoke were ‘and so it goes as soon as he uttered these words bullet got down turned around returned to my feet and collapsed
the man beside staven told her that the wheelchair-bound man had been waiting for his totem so that he could go now
it took three days for bullet to return to being himself but staven said even to this day when bullet hears music with native american-style horns and drums he will howl
there isnt any other music except… staven begins ok we shouldnt say this because were at a&m but ‘the eyes of texas comes on the radio at noon everyday (at their home in new braunfels) after the ‘star-spangled banner and when tus song comes on bullet just barks and howls and sings along i like to say hes just hoping for the ‘aggie war hymn but thats the only other time he sings
after his experiences at texas a&m perhaps that will change
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

some may see her as just a dog but texas a&ms first lady reveille is so much more for aggies­and for her aggie veterinarian
dr stacy eckman stays busy teaching veterinary students and interns while also performing everything from routine checkups to extraordinary life-saving measures for patients as a clinical associate professor and chief medical officer for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of small animal clinical sciences (vscs)
as an aggie graduate eckman says one patient always stands outthe first lady of aggieland and one of the most famous dogs in the nation miss reveille
while reveille i was a black-and-white mutt (a fox terrier and mongrel mix according to george comnas class of 1935 one of the students who smuggled the injured dog into their dorm in 1932) and reveille ii was a shetland shepherd every reveille since reveille iii took office in 1966 has been a rough collie
known for their intelligence obedience and beauty collies originated about 350 years ago in scotland as a working breed for herding cattle and sheep today they are the 40th most-popular breed in the country and are as likely to be family pets as working dogs
unlike the collies that portrayed lassie on the celebrated tv show that ran for nearly two decades all reveilles so far have been female
and eckman has known the last three very well
since leaving private practice in corpus christi 10 years ago to return to texas a&m as a veterinarian at the small animal hospital (sah) eckman has provided care for reveille vii in retirement reveille viii while active and in retirement and now reveille ix
i see her at least twice annually but we often see her or are in contact with her handlers more frequently to answer questions eckman said
reveille spends all of her time24 hours a daywith the mascot corporal a sophomore in company e-2 of texas a&ms corps of cadets the mascot corporal (currently colton ray) is chosen from the company each spring and for the next year reveille goes everywhere with him or herto class on dates and home for the holidays
eckman also served on the committee that selected reveille ix in 2015a major responsibility given reveilles high profile and demanding schedule
we traveled to several states to ‘interview dogs breeders and owners and even some rescue organizations she said it was amazing to see the variety of candidates!
the search took seven months and the 12-member committee of students faculty and staff considered 15 applications from breeders and other collie enthusiasts from across the country they picked four finalists and ultimately selected a 16-month-old puppy donated by overland collies in chagrin falls ohio a well-known kennel in the collie-breeding world
her predecessor reveille viii ended her seven years of service with a well-earned retirement at the stevenson companion animal life-care center operated by the cvm she died at age 12 and was laid to rest with her predecessors in kyle field plaza on the north side of the stadium
she was quite the lady eckman said in a texas a&m news story at the time even sick she was regalshe just had that air about her
reveille ix was younger when eckman met her
she was more playful and mischievousshe needed more attention and trainingbut all of them have been sweet and loving eckman said
these qualities are important in a dog that spends her life in the public eye and each has had her quirks reveille ii for example had a habit of relieving herself on kyle field during games leading cadets to place bets on which yard line she would choose and her successor was known as lovable but not the brightest canine ever
in the decades since and as the demands placed on reveille have grown along with student enrollment her handlers and caregivers have emphasized training that prepares reveille for crowds and near-constant activity
training early on is foundational for most dogs eckman said that means slow introductions to a variety of people and noises and eventually building up to a higher level of crowds and noise
she also says her handlers have excelled at learning to read and respond to reveilles body language and other physical cues
that helps keep the trust in their relationship she said when she is getting tired or overwhelmed in a situation they recognize that and change the situation or the approach even though her handler changes yearly they do an excellent job of communicating her training and teaching each other so they remain consistent
eckman says her role as reveilles chief veterinarian makes her proud and humbled
as a die-hard aggie it is such an honor! she said
she also says it was an honor to return to texas a&m as a faculty member eight years after earning her doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree from the cvm in 2001
that was definitely not in my long-term plan! she said but i couldnt be more thankful for the education i received here in and out of the classroom and clinics
the cvm has grown but there is still a deep desire to help students be successful and provide them with the best opportunities she said
today that means more access to technology and teaching tools
since being named the cvms first chief medical officer for the sah in 2017 eckman has intended to maintain the exceptional patient care and exceptional student learning experiences that are at the core of the hospitals mission no matter how much the hospital grows or changes
in her view this means a focus on process management or how we can serve clients and patients to the best of our abilities while continuing to provide students interns and residents with exceptional learning opportunities she said
despite all of the changes on campus eckman emphasizes that there is just something about how special this place is that it is almost impossible to articulate
without a doubt reveille helps make aggieland special
i even follow her on twitter eckman said and i am not too twitter-savvy!
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note: this story originally appeared in the fall 2019 edition of cvmbs today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of cvmbs communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216

across the country about 10 000 dogs of all backgrounds will be studied to see how they age and of what makes for a long healthy dogs life
everyone who loves a dog wants the animal whether pet or work companion to enjoy as many years as possible learning the whys behind the length and strength of dogs lifespans has become the impetus for the largest research data-gathering program of its kind the dog aging project
the $23 million initiative is jointly operated by the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and the university of washington (uw) school of medicine it will create a national community of dogs owners veterinarians researchers and volunteers all working together to advance knowledge about how genes habits and the environment influence dog aging
although the project has been in its preliminary stages for a while it was formally announced on nov 14 at the annual gerontological society of america meeting in austin dog owners can nominate their canine as a candidate on the dog aging project website
nomination involves creating a secure user portal and providing comprehensive health and lifestyle information about the dog through questionnaires and the sharing of veterinary medical records
dogs of every age from puppy to senior; all sizes from miniature to huge; male and female; neutered or not; and living in all types of locations are invited to be nominated healthy dogs and those with chronic illness will be considered
all owners who complete the nomination process will become dog aging project citizen scientists and their dogs will become members of the dog aging project ‘pack their information will allow us to begin carrying out important research on aging in dogs said one of the projects trio of directors biology of aging expert daniel promislow professor of pathology at the uw school of medicine and a professor of biology
also leading the multi-institutional project are veterinarian dr kate creevy associate professor of veterinary internal medicine at the cvm and longevity and healthspan researcher matt kaeberlein a professor of pathology at the uw school of medicine more than 40 other researchers from a variety of fields and institutions will join them in this endeavor
aging is the major cause of the most common diseases like cancer and heart problems dogs age more rapidly than people do and get many of our same diseases of aging including cognitive decline kaeberlein said they also share our living environment and have a diverse genetic makeup this project will contribute broadly to knowledge about aging in dogs and in people
over the 10-year project scientists will gather information on the 10 000 enrolled dogs in a collaborative open-data platform this means that like the framingham heart study and the all of us research program the massive amount of data can be analyzed by scientists around the world in a variety of ways for this study the largest of its kind ever undertaken the dogs will be followed throughout their lifetimes
we are excited to work with companion dogs in this research program as a veterinarian it is important to me that our work benefits dogs directly but our work with dogs has the added value of shedding light on the human aging experience as well creevy said
the researchers emphasized that their goal is not merely to increase life expectancy; their target is not lifespan but healthspan which refers to the period of life spent free from disease improved quality of life in advanced age is a goal many people have for their dogs and for themselves
the dog aging project will have four key endeavors:
the dog aging project is supported by a federal grant from the national institute on aging of the national institutes of health (ui19ag057337) and private donations
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
civil unrest may have worsened the ongoing ebola outbreak in the democratic republic of congo (drc) according to a new study on which texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) researcher dr martial ndeffo is an author
published in the proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america (pnas) the research teamincluding scholars from yale university the university of florida and the university of bordeauxfound that disruptive events such as attacks on ebola treatment centers and healthcare workers reduced population-level vaccine effectiveness in the drc by 43 percent on average
prior to disruptive events the population-level vaccine effectiveness was estimated to be 52 percent; in the observed period of conflict it was estimated to reach a minimum of 48 percent
the eastern drc is facing one of its most severe ebola outbreaks on record with 2 084 cases and 1 405 deaths since april 30 2018 the country also is currently engulfed in conflict surrounding politics ethnicity land ownership and economics the mining regions of north kiva and ituri face conflict from more than 70 armed groups
the research evaluated ethnographic evidence such as civilian interactions with healthcare workers and data relating the timeline of conflict to disease trends between aug 12 2018 and june 23 2019 the researcher teams model predicted an average population-level vaccine effectiveness of 295 percent
with respect to ebola maintaining a high population-level vaccination effectiveness relies on good tracking of who has contact with infected individuals ndeffo said thus when contact tracing becomes logistically challenging due to violence and conflict a drop in population-level vaccination effectiveness can allow for the disease to enter new communities and be temporarily undetected
the study also evaluated the reproductive number of the disease or how many new cases each existing case generates on average for example a reproductive number of 2 means that each diseased individual infects two more people on average
during the research observation period ebolas reproductive number at times below 1 this indicates that each case was on average infecting less than one person suggesting a declining trend in disease spread in times of conflict the reproductive number was driven above 1 indicating that each diseased individual was infecting more than one person on average
during disruptive events the time from the first appearance of symptoms to safely containing the infected individual or time to isolation was on average extended by 191 days this could in part be attributed to conflict episodes disrupting the tracing of chains of transmission or the tracking of who is infected and who interacts with infected individuals without tracking this data health officials may have difficulty in predicting the spread of disease and responding accordingly
the negative effects of extended time from symptom onset to isolation is that the individual is spending more time in the general community increasing the risk of further spread of the disease ndeffo said this extended time to isolation is also attributed to these individuals not being in known chains of transmission thus this unknown chain of transmission can grow in an undetected manor making the public health response that much more difficult down the road
the impact of conflict on the time it takes to isolate an infected individual population-level vaccine effectiveness and reproductive number can inform health officials of the larger picture of the effect conflict has had on public health response over the course of the drcs ebola outbreak in addition to these quantitative statistics ethnographic evidence provided in this study also takes into account the cultural and social impact that violent conflict has on disease response
our ethnographic evidence indicates increased hostility of the public toward healthcare responders prior to an attack which would impede the effectiveness of the public health response ndeffo said through our analysis we show that a declining trend in ebola incidence can be reversed as a result of violence toward the response and how they contribute to the persistence of the epidemic
solutions to the observations presented in this study may be focused on conflict resolution in addition to medical intervention both a reduction in violence and support of humanitarian work are necessary to restore order and rebuild infrastructure in the affected area ndeffo places emphasis on the importance of gaining local trust of healthcare workers this research could also help public health officials address the treatment of outbreaks of other diseases in other areas
the model we developed can seemingly be adjusted to simulate outbreaks of other disease in other conflict affected areas and examine the effects of conflict on disease incidence and public health control measures ndeffo said there are other regions in the world where violence and conflict can impact the spread of other infectious diseases besides ebola
this work also highlights the importance of coupling the public health response with humanitarian responses in the area to hopefully reduce the number of attacks toward healthcare workers and the facilities
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as the first in his family to attend college demonta coleman already is a trailblazer
coleman who is a texas a&m university biomedical sciences (bims) major has climbed to new heights over the past three years most recently he was selected to receive the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) gathright phi kappa phi outstanding junior award and texas a&m universitys gathright phi kappa phi outstanding junior of the year
phi kappa phi (pkp) a multi-disciplinary honor society annually recognizes the outstanding junior selected from each texas a&m college the recognition is presented in a collaboration between the association of former students launch: academic excellence and texas a&ms pkp chapter selection criteria for this honor includes the students academic record research and/or creative production community engagement and accomplishments/awards
in addition each of these outstanding juniors is considered for the texas a&m gathright phi kappa phi outstanding junior for the year this award is highly valued when students apply for national academic awards programs such as the rhodes scholars or fulbright scholars
the gathright outstanding junior is selected from all of the juniors of their college so it is not surprising that choosing between them to select the texas a&m outstanding junior is a difficult task all of our 2019 gathright outstanding juniors have outstanding academic records impressive resumes and all gave strong interviews said dr jonathan kotinek director of texas a&ms launch: honors demonta coleman was selected because of the impressive breadth and quality of his activities which include research and extensive service as well as his strong interview responses related to his career plans in medicine and pursuing life-long learning
the award highlights how far coleman has come in such a short period of time
applying for college in general was hard because i didnt know much about college to begin with the lufkin native said my interest in texas a&m was based on seeing many people around my hometown wearing a&m apparel so i thought it must be a good school
colemans desire to become a scientist and his top grades in school meant that he was a perfect match for texas a&m he hasnt been disappointed
its a really welcoming atmosphere ive always felt like im part of something bigger than myself he said there are a ton of resources on campus and a lot of professors show that they care about your success
coleman is particularly interested in organic chemistry and is participating in the aggie research scholars program for undergraduate students his research is focused on cancer
cd44 a transmembrane receptor is overly produced in embryonic stem cells and studies show this overproduction is directly linked so various forms of cancer cd44 is activated when specific natural molecules bind leading to increased growth and survival of cancerous cells coleman said
our research goal is to test whether this receptor can be blocked by the non-natural amino acid boronophenylalanine so that the growth promoting molecules cannot bind he said this will be achieved through the incorporation of this amino acid onto a protein on the surface of a phage which is a small bacterial virus and exposure of this phage to the cd44 phage display of the non-natural amino allows for the rapid production of potential peptide sequences whose binding properties for cd44 can be quantified
coleman who is also a regents scholar has been involved in a variety of service efforts across campus hes a mentor in the foundations of continued undergraduate success (focus) learning community through texas a&ms office for student success in that role coleman works with three other mentors to assist incoming freshmen many of whom are first-generation students like himself as they transition into college he also serves as a tutor through texas a&ms academic success centers tutorhub
his professors believe coleman will have a strong professional career ahead of him
demonta is an outstanding student with many options before him he has significant research experience is a peer mentor and tutor and excellent academician said dr elizabeth crouch cvms associate dean for undergraduate education who nominated coleman for the college-level award what most stands out when you speak with him is his enthusiasm for learning and his excitement about his future and truly he is a student who has excelled and will continue to excel in all his future endeavors
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
if you met him today it would be hard to imagine how gus a dog who endured so much trauma could be so calm and downright lovable
in august of 2018 the young mixed-breed was found in houston with 28 air gun pellets embedded all over his body he had a shoe lace tied around his neck and a head swollen three times its normal size making simple tasks like eating and drinking nearly impossible he also had a pelvic fracture
good samaritans rescued him and immediately rushed him to a local emergency room
the rescue organization houston k-911 agreed to sponsor the dog and they began to call him gus once he was stable they transferred him to texas a&ms veterinary medical teaching hospital where he stayed for all of september and part of october 2018 during that time gus was seen by multiple services in the small animal hospital including emergency and critical care soft tissue surgery and rehabilitation
gus was in rough shape when he first came to ushe was the worst case of an embedded object id seen in the 30 years i did surgery said dr lisa howe the vmth surgeon on guss case the people who rescued him did a great job caring for the wound created by the shoestring but the shoestring was in for so long and was so chronic that the scar tissue had formed a 360-degree constriction around his neck
gus underwent his first surgery on his neck when he arrived at the vmth and then received laser therapy to reduce his facial swelling once the swelling subsided he received additional procedures for his injuries including the removal of excess skin
it was truly a team approach said howe you could tell when he finally started feeling better and when the swelling in his head started going down he began playing and acting like a dog again he was a healing machine thats for sure it took him a while but he got there
theres only one gus in this world im convinced most dogs would not be able to tolerate what he very calmly tolerated
to make things as easy for him as possible one of the vmth technicians marina harrison fostered gus in her home during his treatments so that he wouldnt have to go back and forth from college station to houston the pair developed a special bond
when he first came to us gus was apprehensive of people for obvious reasons but it was amazing how quickly he became a regular dog said harrison i could tell how much gus loved having a home with a bed and constant attention and he quickly developed a bond with all of my dogs it was nice to watch his personality develop and see his transition from distrust to openness
it was also really heartwarming to walk through the hospital with gus and have people whom i didnt know run up to us she said he was such a good conduit for connections with people and it was easy to tell his story simply because people recognized him
throughout his treatments gus became an internet sensation and his followers watched as he was transformed into a healthy happy dog the hashtag #gusstrong became a marker of his success
when it was time for gus to return to houston some of his friends at the vmth threw a party for him to celebrate the immense progress he had made
one year later gus is living his best life houston k-911 has officially adopted him to serve as an ambassador for other stray dogs in his new role gus is a special guest at schools juvenile detention centers and other venues where he advocates for his fellow canines and the importance of speaking out against animal abuse
recently gus was also the winner in the shelter dogs category for the american humane hero dog awards an annual nationwide competition that recognizes americas most heroic dogs
ive been in rescue for years and i thought id seen everything said barbosa guss appearance was shocking and for everything that he endured i would have expected a timid and distrusting dog gus was almost the exact opposite
very soon after his rescue he opened up and began to trust and allowed people to help him it doesnt matter where we go or what new environment he is in he acts as though he is perfectly comfortable and at ease he is truly remarkable
keep up with gus on his facebook page run by houston k-911: https://wwwfacebookcom/gusjourney2018/
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for more information about the texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt director of vmbs communications texas a&m school of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
elliott the elk a social media celebrity from idaho has joined the community of exotic animals at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) winnie carter wildlife center
elliotts journey to texas a&m began when he was taken from the wild as a calf and raised by humans in sweet idaho though he was released into the bear valley campground area later by the idaho department of fish and game he continually approached hunters and refused to join an elk herd
bobby and robin shindelar hunters and outdoor enthusiasts created the save elliott facebook page to promote elliotts situation and help him find a safer permanent home their page grew to more than 1 000 members and has tracked elliotts journey since his relocation to bear valley
when it became apparent that elliott would never develop normal wild elk behavior idaho fish and game decided that elliott needed a forever home where he could safely be cared for by humans for the rest of his life
elliotts veterinarian in idaho dr mark drew thought of texas a&m and contacted dr walter cook his former student who is now a cvm clinical associate professor cook reached out to his colleague dr alice blue-mclendon director of the winnie carter wildlife center and they agreed that texas a&m would be the best place for the elk
blue-mclendon acquired special permissions from animal regulatory authorities to safely move elliott across state lines then two of cooks graduate students chase nunez and logan thomas began preparing to bring elliott to his new home in college station
they set out on oct 17 to meet elliott who was brought down to pueblo colorado by a volunteer driver from idaho
apparently elliott was really well behaved and went right from one trailer to the other blue-mclendon said he was a very good boy we had to make sure that both trailers had sliding doors so we didnt have an elk running down the street
luckily elliotts transfer went smoothly and he was soon on his way to texas both the graduate students who spent 36 hours on the road are looking forward to receiving elliotts antler sheds as thank you gifts from blue-mclendon
now at his new home elliott is settling in nicely and enjoying the attention from those at the wildlife center
were happy to have elliot and i think were a really good fit for him because we can provide a place for him long-term blue-mclendon said hell get the best care here and he has access to the best veterinarians in the world hell get lots of attention and have a happy life
elliott nicknamed elliott waldo after walter waldo cook will be cared for by blue-mclendon the wildlife center staff and the undergraduate and veterinary students who volunteer and take classes at the center
its exciting and fun to have a new animal blue-mclendon said more work to do and more mouths to feed but the students always like something new to do; they thrive on diversity
hell end up being one of the largest animals that has ever been at the wildlife center she said hell probably get to at least 800 pounds hes already the biggest thing that lives here now at 430 pounds
currently elliott is being cared for under protected contact which means the students and staff cannot enter his pen while he is inside as a young male elliott is entering his first season of rut and has high levels of testosterone
its a super educational experience for veterinary students and undergrads blue-mclendon said a lot of the students want to work with non-domestics when they become veterinarians or want to be zookeepers its important to learn to work around animals that you cant go in with and pet
the students may not be able to enter elliotts pen but that doesnt mean they love him any less than the other animals at the wildlife center
he already has quite the following (among the students) blue-mclendon said they all love him everyone can pet him through the fence
thanks to his social media fame elliott has already had visitors from outside the cvm as well including a couple from idaho who stopped by to see him when they came down to watch a texas a&m football game
once this rutting season is over blue-mclendon hopes that elliotts behavior will improve and he will become gentler around people
were hoping that hell be more tractable and that hell be friendly but well always have to be cautious with him she said but its normal for most hand-raised males to go back to being nicer individuals toward humans (after rutting season ends)
no matter how his attitude turns out elliott will be cared for and loved at the winnie carter wildlife center for the rest of his life
while everything turned out well for elliott that is not always the case for wild animals taken into captivity by humans blue-mclendon reminds animal lovers that if they become concerned about a wild animal it is always better to contact a wildlife official rather than interact with the animal themselves
thanks to the dedication shown by idaho fish and game members the texas a&m winnie carter wildlife center and his many faithful fans online elliott has found his happy ending at texas a&m
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr alison diesel a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and & biomedical sciences (cvm) was not looking to adopt a cat when she first met crouton
we had just lost the best cat in the world piddy who had grabbed onto a piece of my heart and never let it go diesel said i can say for certain there will never be another cat like her
piddy had been diagnosed with gi lymphoma a form of intestinal cancer in february; the cancer was very aggressive and piddy lost her battle at the end of may
when i returned to work three days later i happened to be in the hallway outside of dermatology diesel said one of the surgery technicians at the time was holding a tiny gray tabby kitten the same color as piddy
that kitten crouton had been found outside of a bar in downtown bryan brought into the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) and was subsequently treated for brachial plexus avulsion which occurs when nerve roots stretch or tear from their attachment to the spinal cord there is no treatment for brachial plexus avulsion and with complete avulsion the prognosis is often poor
there is a group of nerves that come off of the spinal cord and go down into the limb; they all meet at one spot right underneath the cats front leg said dr mark stickney the cvm clinical associate professor who performed croutons operation if the cat experiences some kind of trauma something that really causes tension on that leg those nerves can only stretch so far
when they reach their breaking point the brachial plexus tears loose from the spinal cord and those nerves to the leg are no longer functional so you have a paralyzed leg that cant do anything stickney said when the animal walks around theyre dragging their paw on the ground and they end up getting wounds that become infected the most common treatment is to amputate that leg
that was the case with crouton whose left front limb had to be amputated as the result of the brachial plexus avulsion stickney completed croutons surgery with no complications stressing that crouton was a model patient
croutons surgery was very routine and her recovery was excellent within hours of having her surgery she was up and purring wanting to curl up with you she was fantastic stickney said animals do really really well on only three legs crouton is going to have an outstanding life
when diesel learned the details of croutons case she couldnt help but think of her piddy who had passed on the same day crouton arrived at the texas a&m small animal hospital
that was not the only coincidence diesel found between the two cats
my piddy was also a left front leg amputee due to a brachial plexus avulsion as a kitten so the two shared the same color hair coat same arm and same reason for needing amputation diesel said
i dont normally believe in these things but i felt this was some part of the ‘universe reaching out diesel said i struggled with the decision to adopt crouton; we werent ready for a new cati thought it would be about a year before we got another one but this little thing couldnt be ignored
believing that this kitten was meant to be in diesels life several close friends and fellow vmth veterinarians planned to foster the kitten until diesel was ready however preparations didnt take long and the kitten went home with diesel just five days later
crouton has fully wiggled her way into our hearts diesel said she has become a very brave little cat
at home crouton joins three dogs: brutus the pug; jelly the mix; and potato the golden retriever
her best friend is potato; they love each other! they wrestle they play and she races him to the tennis balland often wins diesel said
croutons amputation which happened when she was only 7 weeks old has failed to slow her down
she jumps around can get up on all the countersmuch to our chagrinand climbs and plays diesel said
crouton is now fully settled as part of diesels home though the coincidence of her arrival is still bewildering
every once in awhile i catch her doing something and have to stare at her a bit diesel said weird to say but it does seem like a bit of piddys soul has made it into the little crouton cat
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a study from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) offers new insight on how the gut bacteria of dogs interact with a healthy vs unhealthy gi tract which could contribute to the development of new therapies for gi diseases in both dogs and humans
in a study published on oct 31 in plos one amanda blake a doctoral student with the cvms gastrointestinal laboratory measured the levels of bacterial metabolic productsfecal lactate and secondary bile acids (ba)in the fecal matter of dogs with different gastrointestinal (gi) conditions
fecal lactate and secondary ba are both substances made by bacteria and the concentrations at which they are present in fecal matter can inform researchers about the activity of bacteria in the gi tract the different levels of these substances in a diseased host vs a healthy host can inform researchers of how gi bacteria act in diseased vs healthy environments as well as how gi bacteria interact with different diseases
in her study blake found higher levels of lactate and lower levels of secondary ba in the feces of dogs with chronic enteropathy (ce) and dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (epi) this is noteworthy since although these two diseases have different symptoms and causes of disease the bacterial outputs of their gut microbiota appear to be similar
the goal was to look at the bacteria and then also products that the bacteria make these metabolites which are lactate and secondary bile acids reveal similarities across gi diseases that are very different physiologically blake said
these findings can help the community better understand interactions between gi microbiota and disease
by focusing on the metabolic products of an affected animal blakes research is unique in that it accounts for not only the types of bacteria present but also how these bacteria are interacting with their environment this is important because the same species of bacteria can produce different products dependent on the health of their environment a particular species of bacteria in a healthy animal might produce a different chemical than it would in a host with a gi disease
if we can find ways that the microbiota interacts with the host and we can compare between health and disease states then maybe we can alter some of those interactions in disease to make the microbiota healthy and then hopefully make the individual healthy in the end blake said
currently treatments for many gi afflictions are non-specific which might be of more harm than help for the animal better understanding the gi microbiome would allow researchers to develop more targeted treatment options
sometimes the inconvenience of a symptom like diarrhea leads to veterinarians to throw everything at the dog: the antibiotics the steroids give it everything and hopefully one of them will make it stop blake said were finding more and more that giving dogs these medications unnecessarily can actually change their microbiota for the worse
these findings could also be relevant to treating similar gi conditions in human patients
humans also get exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and chronic enteropathy in dogs is similar to inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) in humans blake said a lot of people know what ibd is for human medicine or crohns disease the same findings could be applied to humans with those gi diseases
blake emphasizes that an open view on the functions of different species of bacteria is best and that researchers should be hesitant about labeling certain species as definitively helpful or harmful
its not good guys and bad guys for the microbiota blake said we need to pay attention to a combination of factors such as their environment the metabolic products that theyre making and the individual patient to better understand the role of microbiota in disease
full text of this article can be found at https://journalsplosorg/plosone/articleid=101371/journalpone0224454
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has welcomed kris guye as the new executive director of information technology and assistant chief information officer (cio) for the college
in this position guye will provide it leadership for the cvm and work with the campus-wide division of information technology to discover develop and implement innovative technology solutions for the cvm and the university as a whole
one of the things that excited me about this job was fulfilling the deans vision of bringing together and better aligning the it strategy with of the missions of the college and university guye said
everyone ive had conversations with has had the same philosophical viewpointwere all really busy weve got jobs to do and we want to be the best at what we do guye said everyone has the same goal and thats just to be the best and support the mission of the college
by working directly with the texas a&m division of information technology guye will help improve communication between central it and the cvm and work with other assistant cios on campus to promote the needs of the individual colleges
guye said he is looking forward to seeing how all of the different it groups at texas a&m pull together and begin working together more cohesively as well as how those relationships will benefit the university
ive worked in central it and understand their perspective but there is often difficulty in communicating out to the decentralized organizations particularly in large universities guye said i will help bridge the gaps to create better communication and real partnerships that will benefit the college
ive learned over my 20-year career to not force anything guye said i really plan on taking my time and making sure that any changes we make are well thought-out and the best for the college as a whole
the cvm and the college of architecture are the first participants in a new collaborative assistant chief information officer (acio) program for texas a&m university which was created by the division of information technology to better align it with academic research and student success initiatives across campus
as the cvms executive director of it and assistant cio guye will directly report to both dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine and dee childs the vice president for it and cio at texas a&m
texas a&ms sheer size and complexity means we cannot create innovative solutions in isolation childs said a more focused collaborative approach will result in greater responsiveness to common it challenges and will encourage synergistic innovations that benefit everyone while respecting discipline-specific uniqueness
the acio program will provide new levels of collaboration that will benefit the entire university according to green
the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences will have direct access to the divisions cybersecurity expertise and resources as well as 24-hour readily available support green said the essential nature of it in the daily lives of all cvm faculty staff and students led to the creation of this new position in collaboration with campus it
guye joins the cvm from the university of texas system where he served as director of client services for the office of shared information services he has two daughters who are freshmen at texas a&m and a son attending texas a&m university-corpus christi at the rellis campus
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a significant portion of the nations food animal industry will receive cutting-edge research support that will help producers grow and prosper in a time of increasing global demand and pressing sustainability issues thanks to an innovative partnership between texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and west texas a&m university (wtamu)
while this collaboration known as veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program offers a systematic approach that focuses on education and outreach vero has also been increasingly placing cvm and wtamu researchers at the front and center of the nations food livestock industry
veros roots were planted in 2009 thanks to the combined vision of dr eleanor green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m and dr dean hawkins then-dean of wtams paul engler college of agriculture & natural sciences
initially veros focus was on creating educational and outreach efforts such as the food animal production & rural practice tour and creating summer internships for cvm students; however the addition of dr paul morley veros director of research to the vero team in early 2019 has ramped up the programs research component
formerly a faculty member at colorado state universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences morley an epidemiologist based his decision to join vero on the unprecedented partnership which enjoys the support of the state of texas the texas a&m university system texas a&m university and wtamu
under morleys direction veros research agenda will be driven by the industrys needs
for example vero researchers are currently conducting multiple us department of agriculture-sponsored studies focused on respiratory disease in beef cattle which is one of the most important problems to the beef industry
the goals of these projects include improving the detection and genetic characterization of respiratory pathogens using state-of-the-art genomics tools to investigate evolution and spread in cattle populations investigating the impacts of antimicrobial drug use on selection of resistant bacteria improving early detection of sick cattle and improving treatment strategies for the promotion of animal wellbeing morley said
the initiatives scientists also are making groundbreaking discoveries related to antimicrobial use in animals and the impacts on antimicrobial resistance
our research group has pioneered the use of next-generation sequencing to characterize the ecology of antimicrobial resistance in entire ecosystems of bacteria that live in and on animals morley said we are using these tools to gain new understanding of how we can best promote the efficient production of food animals while also promoting animal wellbeing public health and environmental sustainability
our studies have provided an unprecedented ability to investigate specific uses of antimicrobial drugs to evaluate risks for promoting antimicrobial resistance he said examples of this work include studies of bacterial communities in meat products and studies of whether people eating meat produced in conventional rearing systems that allow antimicrobial drug use are more likely to harbor resistant bacteria in their gut compared to people who eat meat from animals raised without antimicrobial drug exposures
veros research team also is focusing on learning more about infectious diseases in food animals through the use of state-of-the-art sequencing techniques
for example liver abscesses are a very significant problem in beef and dairy cattle and our previous understanding was developed through use of standard bacterial culture techniques that are largely unchanged from 100 years ago morley said however use of genetic sequencing has shown that the microbial communities in these abscesses are hugely complex which suggests that we need to revise our approaches to prevention
morley said that veros research initiative which already includes strong researchers who are part of wtamus faculty will only grow
currently we have four cvm faculty who have full-time assignments in canyon specifically for the vero program but we partner and augment with additional faculty who are part of wtamus department of agriculture sciences he said we also are hiring a number of new faculty to bring in new research scientists who will help us grow what were currently doing in research
ultimately this research will play a part in tackling the global grand challenge of feeding a growing population while also addressing resource issues related to land water and energy
with the world population projected to be 10 billion people by 2050 producers will be required to double food production over current levels to avoid shortages and starvation to do so producers will need to become more productive and efficient while also improving safety sustainability and ecosystem health
the kinds of things that dr morley and his team of researchers tease out in tulia plainview randle county and happy will have application to the cattle in iowa colorado russia and south africa said dr dee griffin vero program director he literally has the opportunity in this unique laboratory to change the impact on the environment around the world and the interface between humans and animals
vero housed at wtamu uniquely positions morley and his team for this line of research at the ground level the partnership is built on mutual respect and a focus on serving the panhandle community
one of the reasons that this initiative is so unique is that while many veterinary schools in the country were set up in strong agriculture areasparticularly those in universities with land-grant status such as texas a&mthat is no longer the case morley said when these veterinary schools were established 100-125 years ago cattle and horses were everywhere now while many of those schools maintain a strong tie to agriculture they are not where the animals are
part of our philosophy is that west texas a&ms administrators and faculty are true teammates and we share the ownership and responsibility with them he said veros location in canyon makes it a magical opportunity for collaboration between researchers from west texas a&m and texas a&m
wtamu serves a region that is home to a significant percentage of the food livestock industry for example approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are fed or finished in the region with 25 million beef cattle in the area at any given time in addition the region is home to other types of food animal production including dairy cattle and swine
with all of the animals that are around here thats a huge economic boon for the state to have research faculty out here addressing important research problems is a win-win for everyone morley said what were trying to promote in our research program is the strong tie to the industry in terms of hearing their important needswhat problems they need us to work on and what areas that we can help them to financially successful and sustainable in terms of the consumer and the environment
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
there are currently no accurate simple and affordable cancer screening tests available in veterinary medicine yet 25 percent of the more than 55 million dogs in the united states will develop cancer at some stage of their life accounting for an estimated 42 million cancer diagnoses each year
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and volitionrx limited (volition) are working to change that with a partnership through which veterinary oncologists at the cvm will test volitions nuqtm platform and assays it was announced friday nuqtm is a suite of novel routine blood screening tests for the unique nucleosomes that serve as biomarkers in cancer in dogs
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is excited to be working with volition to develop tests for the early detection of cancer and other diseases in animals said dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m the research and clinical trials conducted by cvms veterinary oncologists work on the cutting-edge of medicine and have benefitted both humans and animals the goal of this project with volition is to provide all veterinarians with simple affordable routine blood tests that can help identify disease early and improve the lives of both animals and the people who love them
as part of the memorandum of understanding dr heather wilson-robles an associate professor and dr fred and vola n palmer chair in comparative oncology in the cvms small animal clinical sciences department (vscs) will lead the research and development of the veterinary diagnostic tests
i am excited to be working with volition on this project wilson-robles said the nuqtm platform has the potential to change the landscape of veterinary cancer diagnostics provided much needed affordable and reliable screening tests that to date simply dont exist in the veterinary world
also as part of the agreement texas a&m university (texas a&m) a member of the texas a&m university system receives an equity stake in volition veterinary diagnostics development llc (volition veterinary) a subsidiary of volition
we are delighted to execute these agreements today and are excited to collaborate with texas a&m a leading us institution to develop nuqtm vet products said cameron reynolds volition chief executive officer i and other members of the volition board and executive team have very much enjoyed the hospitality of texas a&m and are very impressed with the calibre of personnel and fantastic facilities in the veterinary school
volition is a multi-national life sciences company developing simple easy-to-use cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases
early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life volitions nuqtm tests are based on the science of nucleosomicstm which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid an indication that disease is present
volition is primarily focused on human diagnostics but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics
volitions research and development activities are currently centered in belgium with additional offices in texas london and singapore as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market
the signing ceremony took place at the texas a&m campus hosted by green also in attendance were: wilson-robles; chantal de bleu director general and phillipe la chappelle director of innovation of awex the wallonia export-investment agency; members of the volition executive team including chairman dr martin faulkes and chief executive officer cameron reynolds
for more information about volition visit volitions website at wwwvolitioncom
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr walter cook a clinical associate professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary pathobiology was recently invited to testify before the full senate committee on environment and public works as a subject matter expert
during the committees examining the impacts of diseases on wildlife conservation and management hearing on oct 16 cook used his 25 years of experience as a wildlife population health veterinarian to educate the committee on high-consequence disease management in wildlife
i really was really honored to be asked by the us senate environment and public works committee to testify cook said chairman (and sen john) barrasso and ranking member thomas carper were very gracious; they both greeted me before the hearing it really helped make me feel at ease
in his testimony cook described five wildlife diseases that he finds particularly concerningchronic wasting disease bighorn sheep respiratory disease complex white-nose syndrome chytrid fungus and anthrax
it is important that funding be made available to address wildlife disease management cook said in his testimony im particularly concerned with the lack of federal funds available for research aimed at real-world management dilemmas
cook provided the committee with a five-minute oral testimony and a seven-page written testimony that included photographic evidence of common wildlife diseases
chairman barrassos staff particularly kaitlynn glover were very helpful cook said i also really appreciate andrew harding majority counsel for the committee for his assistance in preparing me and making sure i was comfortable
most importantly taylor sexton assistant director at the office of federal relations for the texas a&m university system was extremely helpful he said he made sure i got where i needed to be had everything i needed and even fed me a great lunch at the old ebbitt after the hearing
the goal of the hearing which took place in the dirksen senate office building in washington dc was to discover what the us government can do to combat the growing problem of wildlife disease which can also impact human health and the economy
successful wildlife conservation and management depends on keeping wildlife populations healthy barrasso said during the hearing unlike in captive animals diseases in wild animals are often difficult to prevent detect and control
stephen d guertin deputy director for program management and policy at the us fish and wildlife service and holly niederriter wildlife biologist at the department of natural resources and environmental control also spoke as expert witnesses at the hearing
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr lori teller a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been awarded the 2019 southwest veterinary symposium (swvs) visionary of the year award
the annual award is presented to an individual who is recognized by the profession and actively engaged in a private public or corporate veterinary practice as well as whose contributions elevate the standards and goals of veterinary medicine
i was very much humbled and honored to receive this award teller said it means a lot to me because i have spent many years encouraging veterinarians and our associations to think progressively and to consider new ways to educate clients and improve business models
the award inspires me to keep pushing she said there are so many amazing people whove received this award and i feel awed to now be in their company
as the first full-time telehealth veterinarian in academia teller is pioneering a telemedicine program at the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) to improve patient care and provide remote practitioners with easy access to cvm specialists
telehealth and telemedicine are going to greatly impact the profession over the next several years and i think its important that it be done well and done right teller said veterinarians should be leading the way in what works and what doesnt for our profession and being at tamu a place that believes strongly in innovation makes it a no-brainer to implement a virtual care program here
teller was presented with the visionary of the year award on sept 28 during the swvs presidents vip reception in san antonio
swvs is one of my favorite continuing education meetings because it is just the right sizenot too big and not too small teller said the people who attend are always friendly especially from the five partner states i love getting to catch up with old friends and meet new people
teller was nominated for the visionary of the year award by the texas veterinary medical association (tvma) and selected as the recipient by the swvs awards committee selection criteria for the award are based on contributions to the profession that include veterinary practice continuing education publications public education and civic activities
the swvs provides continuing education for veterinary professionals in the southwest region of the nation including arkansas louisiana new mexico oklahoma and texas the annual symposium includes exhibits interactive labs and social activities for dvms rvts hospital personnel veterinary and technician students and suppliers who provide the products and services that support veterinary medicine
outside of the cvm teller is active within the american veterinary medical association (avma) and played a key role in the development of its telemedicine policy in 2017 she serves as both vice chair and district viii representative on the avma board of directors and as chair of the avmas state advocacy committee
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
tyland lackey experienced love at first sight when a young mixed-breed dog showed up unexpectedly at his grandparents ranch near caldwell in august 2017 after the teenager encouraged his grandparents to keep the dog they named the canine dinger
lackey and dinger who was about 2 years old at the time quickly became best friends the dog which already would sit and shake with a paw on command soon was dancing and cuddling
hes sweet and lovable and just likes to play he follows me around and sticks next to me lackey said hes just special
in september dinger was exploring the ranch and found himself on the adjoining county road where he was hit by a truck pulling a trailer the dog whose leg was severely injured scooted himself into the ditch and would have died there if a neighbors grandson hadnt seen what happened
lackeys grandparents drove dinger to an area veterinarian who found multiple breaks in the dogs hind leg the doctor said he didnt have the capacity to treat the dog so lackeys mother alisa hairston rushed dinger to the texas a&m university veterinary medicine teaching hospital‘s (vmth) emergency service
dinger was quickly evaluated by the vmth staff who had difficulty stabilizing the dog
he had a fracture of his femur and was in severe shock said dr dalton hindmarsh an emergency/critical care resident who handled dingers case we quickly determined that he was essentially bleeding out of his leg because the veins and arteries were damaged by the fracture
dinger was sent into emergency surgery where the surgical team gave him blood products to stabilize his condition they also found the dog had suffered significant physical damage
the leg developed compartment syndrome where there is so much pressure and swelling inside a closed space that it caused the tissue to die hindmarsh said unfortunately we had to amputate and remove his leg to stop the bleeding and address the fracture
because of the significant blood loss dinger required a massive blood transfusion
we essentially replaced his entire blood volume in a very very short amount of time hindmarsh said with that comes the possibility of a lot of complications thats why he was transferred to the critical care service so we could care for him post-operatively
dingers complications required him to remain in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks he received several additional blood transfusions pain management concussion care and rehabilitation
at the end of dingers stay he suffered complications with the incision which required a specialized surgical procedure with his wound
the dogs stay at vmth was brightened by regular visits from hairston (who works at texas a&m) lackey and the rest of the family
his family was super dedicated hindmarsh said they came to visit him twice a day like clockwork for 13 days they were very involved the whole time that was very helpful because he had a very good support system that kept cheering for him and helped him keep going through all of this
the entire family also is chipping in to pay for dingers medical billsincluding 16-year-old lackey who plans to tap into the savings that he earned from raising and selling livestock through 4-h and future farmers of america events
i felt a need to pay his bills since im basically the owner and i didnt want to lose him the teenager said i also am setting up a gofund me page for his recovery
dinger finally was discharged from vmth last month proudly wearing a 12th man jersey given to patients as they discharge from the hospital
the hospitals team was indescribably amazing hairston said within two and a half weeks of the procedure dinger was walking again we are super grateful
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
krisa camargo a graduate research assistant in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) interdisciplinary faculty of toxicology (ift) program has been awarded a science mathematics and research for transformation (smart) scholarship from the united states department of defense (dod)
the scholarship will cover camargos tuition textbooks health insurance and an annual stipend for the final two years of her phd dissertation work as well as guarantee her a summer internship and future civilian position with her dod sponsoring facility upon graduation
it was a pleasant surprise and a nice relief camargo said i can now focus on my research and get into the details prior to defending my dissertation
camargo will spend summer 2020 working directly with an experienced mentor at the army public health center in aberdeen maryland to gain valuable skills and field experience
upon graduation she will begin her service commitment and contribute to national security at the same army facility as a civilian employee
this is a major accomplishment that our program and the entire university are very proud of said dr ivan rusyn university professor and chair of the toxicology program at texas a&m this is a very competitive program and krisa has taken initiative to seek external funding to help her proactively shape her career aspirations
at the army public health center camargo will work within the toxicology division to support the war fighter their families and the environment by characterizing the potential risks associated with military-related substances like smokes and obscurants
ideally you want functional products without adverse health effects for either the public or the environment she said
since her father served in the united states coast guard (uscg) for more than 21 years camargo has moved more than seven times across the eastern seaboard as a result her military family has grown over the years and she is excited to work for the military as a civilian and smart scholar
at the cvm camargo is a trainee at the texas a&m superfund research center (src) under the mentorship of cvm professor dr weihsueh chiu; dr thomas mcdonald regents professor in the school of public health; and dr anthony knap professor in the college of geosciences and director of the geochemical and environmental research group
the smart scholarship with its ultimate goal of protecting military personnel and their families from health impacts of military-related substances is a great fit for krisa and we are very proud of her accomplishment chiu said moreover it serves as a great example of how our toxicology training program in regulatory science seeks to prepare trainees for careers across a range of sectors
camargo is writing her dissertation on the characterization of environmental mixtures in galveston bay and the houston ship channel soils and sediments
within the superfund research center im primarily working with sediments or soils camargo said i characterize the contaminants potentially in these samples and quantify their respective concentrations then i ask ‘what should we do about it ‘are they of concern and ‘what is the exposure risk associated with these samples
this work guided her decision to pursue the smart scholarship camargo said
dr rusyn and the faculty in the superfund center opened the door (to the dod opportunity) by encouraging me to be bold with my career camargo said each individual who visited represented a range of career sectors which included consultants state or federal government officials industry scientists and academics
through those visiting speakers she began to develop her interest in government and regulatory risk assessment after learning about the smart program from one speaker and researching the opportunity more she found it to be a great fit especially as the military is and continues to be near and dear to her
camargo grew up in virginia for one of her fathers uscg tours and attended george mason university for her undergraduate degree in neuroscience
im excited about returning ‘home! ive missed the east coast camargo said itll be nice to go back to the dc area but also do something i enjoy
to apply for the smart scholarship camargo submitted her application that consisted of her doctoral proposal letters of recommendation and a personal statement about her interest in the program upon review of a smart committee panel she was preliminarily selected prior to interviewing with her selected dod sponsoring facilities
the smart scholarship-for-service program was established as a concentrated effort to enhance the dod workforce with talented innovative and brilliant scientists engineers and researchers for more than a decade smart scholars have been working within labs and agencies of the army navy air force and additional dod to support the war fighter and create an impact to secure our nation
for more information on the smart program or to learn how students can apply please visit wwwsmartscholarshiporg the application window is open from august through december every year
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr dana gaddy a tenured professor in texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been recognized with the 2019 gideon a rodan award for mentorship presented by the american society for bone and mineral research (asbmr) this award was presented during the asbmr 2019 annual meeting at the orange county convention center in orlando florida
this annual award recognizes the outstanding support provided by a senior scientist who helps promote the independent careers of young investigators in bone and mineral metabolism the recipient receives a $2 000 honorarium
gaddy who is on the faculty of cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) believes that a meaningful mentorship is about helping both teach and guide an individual
if youre going to accept a student or a postdoc in your lab my philosophy is that youre not just there to use their hands or to train them how to do an analytical technique she said youre there to help them launch a career and wherever that takes them but you have to help them find that out
gaddys philosophy is in line with that of award namesake dr gideon a rodan asbmrs ninth president and director of mercks department of bone biology & osteoporosis research he was a pioneer in the field of bone cell biology and carried out early seminal studies in bone cell characterization signal transduction and cellular and molecular biology rodan was the first recipient of the asbmr excellence in mentorship award which was renamed in his honor
gaddy had a close-up view of the effectiveness of rodans mentoring efforts as he was a close personal friend and gaddy considered him a mentor
dr rodan mentored everybody in the field who was involved in developing bisphosphonates (a group of medicines that strengthen bones) such as fosamax gaddy said he also mentored postdocs who went to work with other companies on other drug development projects as well as scientists who went from industry to academia and back
gaddy earned her phd in reproductive endocrinology at baylor college of medicine she credits her adviser dr joanne richards for serving as a strong professional mentor richards efforts to tailor her mentoring to guide dvms phds and mds helped shape gaddys perspective on mentoring
youve got to help them find the direction that seems to be the place theyre going to be happiest not just mould them after you the cvm faculty member said
after completing her post-doctoral work at the salk institute gaddy received an initial faculty appointment and then earned tenure and eventual promotion to full professor at the university of arkansas for medical sciences she joined texas a&m in 2015
her research interests include the effects of gonadal inhibins and activin on the reproductive-skeletal axis bone cell biology and aging and disuse effects on the musculoskeletal system gaddys lab group was the first to establish a large animal model of the human bone disease hypophosphatasia (hpp) using gene editing in sheep which recapitulates the bone muscle and dental phenotype of human hpp
gaddy offers the same type of support to young investigators in the bone and mineral community through service on the executive boards and as vice-president and president of both advances in mineral metabolism (aimm) and the women in endocrinology she also has helped organize aimms young investigator activities at aimm for the last 15 years she has been an elected member of the asbmr council a member of the womens task force and the membership development committee and participates in the early career fellows days at the endocrine society
her far-reaching mentorship has had ripple effects throughout the asbmr
the number of people who came out of the woodwork to say ‘im so excited that you got this award or ‘your mentorship was important to me and really helped me in my career was incredibly gratifying gaddy said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is one of only two colleges of veterinary medicine in the nation to be named a third consecutive recipient of the 2019 health professions higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award from insight into diversity magazine
the national honor announced oct 15 recognizes us colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion
the 42 recipients of the 2019 annual health professions heed awardrepresenting us medical dental pharmacy osteopathic nursing veterinary allied health and other health schools and centerswill be featured in the december issue of insight into diversity magazine texas a&m university was also named a 2019 heed award as a diversity champion
that the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences has now received this award for three consecutive years is a true testament to the colleges commitment to creating a culture that is welcoming to and inclusive for all said dr eleanor green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m university
our faculty staff administrators and students continuously discuss and reaffirm the importance of working and learning in inclusive environments green said while there is always work to be done we work every day to continue moving forward to create a culture of encouragement and trust
the cvm offers inclusive climate trainings for mediation certification suicide prevention difficult dialogues speaking out against injustice and becoming an aggie ally
winning this heed award from insight into diversity magazine for the third year in a row is an incredible honor for our college said dr kenita rogers executive associate dean and director for diversity & inclusion we work together to recruit a diverse student body faculty and staff and we celebrate the contributions of every member of our college toward this effort this work makes our entire college community better prepared to live in our ever-changing world
additionally recruitment and retention of outstanding underrepresented minority (urm) students can be seen in the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program and in undergraduate and graduate programs through the development of memorandum of agreements (moas) with colleges and universities across the state these programs are designed to promote inclusion diversity and access
the cvm also has strong student and college organizations dedicated to supporting a welcoming learning environment these include the graduate student association which provides consistent multicultural programming; the council on diversity and professionalism (cdp) a committee that includes undergraduate and graduate students faculty and staff as well as a group of elected representatives from each veterinary class that works to promote an inclusive respectful and welcoming environment in the college; voice (veterinarians as one inclusive community for empowerment) a student-run organization that addresses socio-cultural awareness among veterinary students faculty and staff; and broad spectrum (pride) which works to connect support and empower lgbtq+ veterinary students and allies
in addition the new cvm white coats a team of veterinary student leaders who work to foster a positive culture at the cvm are dedicated to maintaining a culture of universal acceptance and selfless leadership in order to preserve the ideals of inclusion and excellence within the cvm
the heed award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employeesand best practices for bothcontinued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion said lenore pearlstein publisher of insight into diversity magazine we take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a heed award recipient our standards are high and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus
one other colleges of veterinary medicine across the country was selected for a heed awardthe ohio state university college of veterinary medicine
insight into diversitymagazine is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education and is well-known for its annual higher education excellence in diversity (heed) award the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses
for more information about the 2019 health professions heed award visit insightintodiversitycom
for more information on the cvms and texas a&ms diversity and inclusion efforts visit https://vetmedtamuedu/diversity and https://diversitytamuedu
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
veterinary medicine is an increasingly complex field with a diverse range of career options for five students from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) this summer allowed them to explore the intersection of veterinary medicine and entrepreneurship through the veterinary entrepreneurship academy (vea)
the vea is a 10-week summer program that creates an immersive high-impact experience allowing students to receive a robust business education through a collaborative web-based platform focused on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship
since the summer of 2016 the vea has connected veterinary students with startup companies through concurrent paid internships at some of the most innovative veterinary and pet health companies across north america
these provide students with hands-on experience with business practices and innovation while also allowing the students to actively apply the concepts and principles theyre learning throughout the program through a rigorous curriculum that educates students on topics including business fundamentals finance and how to build a venture of ones own
the program also provides the opportunity for students to enter an entrepreneurship competition called the idea during which pairs of students are challenged to pitch their business idea to improve the veterinary field last years $10 000 grand prize was awarded to texas a&ms stephanie young and brianna boyle armstrong 2018 vea alumnae for their skypaws pet vitals monitoring device
registration for the 2020 vea cohort is now available at wwwveavet
shelby stephens
shelby stephens a third-year veterinary student from friendswood says the vea opened her eyes to the diversity of careers available to dvm graduates
i learned that there are a lot of different things you can do with veterinary medicine degrees which is really cool she said i never realized how many people go to veterinary school and then end up working in startups or even go on to own a bunch of other businesses
paired with the company dripvet stephens worked to create content for online courses targeted toward other veterinary students and dvms seeking continuing education while curating lessons stephens gained experience in new areas
i learned about finances budgeting contract negotiation and things like that she said i had also been interested in learning how to use different website programs and learning software management and photoshop so i got to do that as well
exploring the business world through the vea gave stephens insight into the current state of veterinary medicine as well as how practices might be run in the future
i dont feel like some clinics are really recognizing the potential in using technology for building their business she said you can kind of see some of that starting to pop up with the startups that we were learning about and paired with
stephens sees the skills she learned this summer with dripvet and the vea as a valuable tool for her future as a veterinarian
i think the vea definitely will be really helpful in including on my resume when i start looking for jobs she said im interested in private practice but i know with some of the bigger clinics where theres seven or eight veterinarians they definitely are looking for these kinds of skills with websites and other things i learned through the vea
arturo pinon-velasquez
arturo pinon-velasquez a third-year veterinary student from dallas entered the vea with previous business experience and the desire to expand his knowledge
i had a lawn business when i was younger and then i sold cars he said when i got into veterinary school i knew i wanted to own a practice but there are a lot of things that i didnt know like the specifics of how to create a business plan and how to keep going and growing
pinon-velasquez gained practical experience with two companies this summer animal care technologies and relief services for veterinary practitioners he characterizes his time with both as hands-on and informative
i think doing a lot of that customer outreach for these companies talking to clients and the client communication growing your business figuring out what am i doing wrong what am i doing right how do i make your experience better were all things that thatll make me as a practitioner and hopefully as a clinic owner more effective he said
pinon-velasquez has put what he learned in the vea to work partnering with fellow student shelby stephens for the idea competition in which students are challenged to produce an original business idea pinon-velasquezs pitch is for dehydrated pet food
i thought ‘what if you had these little portable size pouches of food that were ounces instead of pounds and that made it easier to carry in your backpack then you can take your pet wherever you want and just use a little bit of water to rehydrate and what if that was something that could sustain your pet for weeks on end he said
pinon-velasquezs vision caught on with stephens and they spent the remainder of their summer growing this idea
we basically made an outline of our idea he said what were going to be working on is creating a business model canvas for it that way we have steps for what we want to do or where we want to distribute it how much would it cost and who we need to partner with in order to get our idea moving onto the next step
this september pinon-velasquez and stephens will find out whether or not they have made it to the next stage in the idea competition which continues into march regardless of the results pinon-velasquez is adamant that the vea was a formative experience
i think the vea was a really good experience and it gave me a lot of skills that i didnt have or i needed to develop when i didnt know how to develop them he said anybody thats interested in doing any kind of business whatsoever whether its personal finance or creating your own business could benefit from this program
jennifer nary
jennifer nary a second year veterinary student from new jersey spent her summer with the vea working in a new environment where she found more confidence in her long-standing goals
the program hasnt changed my goals but more strengthened them and validated that yes veterinary medicine is actually what i want to do and now i have some semblance of an idea of how to start doing what i want she said
nary completed her internship with the center for educational technologies (cet) housed within the cvm where she worked to market an online content-offering system that helps instructors create their own learning materials during her time there nary was conscious of how her internship related to concepts she was learning in the vea course
i worked on learning their customer segments how they priced their pricing models marketing the program and all different aspects of the company i tried to learn what goes into taking a product or a company from a startup to actually having customers and marketing to people
this experience went beyond education for nary who felt as though the cet viewed her as a valued member of their team
the vea was a lot more immersive than i was picturing she said the company really seemed to take advantage of me being in this program and actually gave me business experience and knowledge about what they were doing as opposed to just putting me in a corner and saying ‘we need all these papers filed can you do this
nary credits her summer in the vea as productive emphasizing the hands-on nature of her internship and the sense of belonging she found within her team
you get to be a valued member of this company and have a chance for your opinions and your knowledge to be working in the real world and to make a difference at these companies she said you also get to be an integral part of a team and learn about how the business is actually being run
jorge chavarria
jorge chavarria a second-year veterinary student from laredo began the summer knowing what his career goals were but not knowing how to enact them he decided to enter the vea program after a conversation with vea director dr robert trimble
id like to own my own practice but i had no clue how to run a business i have this dream but i didnt know how to get there dr trimble said ‘this is what you need to do he said ‘if i wouldve had this opportunity a couple years before i graduated id be that much more ahead of my colleagues chavarria said
chavarria completed his internship with national veterinary associates where he worked on a number of projects that built his skills in communication systems analysis and presentation of research what struck him most was how much responsibility these companies trusted him with as an intern
things were prepared for me on the first day i already had a list of appointments that i needed to go to meetings that i had to do he said not only that but when meeting with my point of contact and having discussions with them it felt like my opinion was really valued that was the first time for me where i was like ‘wow somebodys actually listening
though this summer was rewarding for chavarria he would not characterize it as easy
this is an internship that is going to make you uncomfortable this is an internship thats going to make you think outside the box and get outside your comfort zone he said it will push you to think differently or push you to really see the different opportunities that veterinarians have
now that chavarria has completed the program he feels more confident in both his desire to pursue veterinary medicine and in his ability to do so
it reassured me that this is what i want to do he said ive found my passion i enjoyed doing it and the vea gave me the principles just the tools that i need to go and to learn more
kayla corey
kayla corey is a second-year veterinary student from krum who grew up near the world of business though she never expected business to be a part of her career as a veterinarian
my dad has owned multiple businesses throughout my life she said i never really thought i would own a business because i was going into veterinary medicine more for the animal aspect of it and to save animals lives thats what i want to do
through the vea and her partnership with furbo dog camera corey was able to combine her long-held love of veterinary medicine with a new interest in entrepreneurship something she thinks will set her apart from her peers
everybodys been in the clinics everybodys been a technician but going and doing the vea is a really cool experience she said just to open your doors a little bit and say ‘hey ive done this
with the experience she has gained over the summer corey is confident that she can better navigate the veterinary field and help veterinary clinics make more informed business decisions
some clinicsa lot of clinicsarent owned by veterinarians anymore she said i can help to give that veterinary input on how the veterinary world fits into the business world; i can help clinics understand that a little bit more
now a graduate of the vea summer program corey feels that other students should be quick to pursue the opportunity to participate as well
no matter what you expect from this program i think youre going to get a lot more from it she said because i went in with like ‘i dont know whats going to happen and it just was amazing
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
for the past 10 years the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been working with west texas a&m university (wtamu) on a plan to bring texas a&ms top 4-ranked doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program to wtamu through the joint veterinary education research & outreach (vero) initiative
on oct 2 three individuals who have played a critical role in bringing that plan to fruition were honored by dr eleanor m green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m with deans impact awards
dr gregg veneklasen owner of timber creek veterinary hospital in canyon dr walter wendler wtamu president and ross wilson president of texas cattle feeders association (tcfa) were recognized for their significant contributions to the cvm during the vero advisory council meeting held on the wtamu campus
all three of our honorees have been instrumental in the programming we have put in place for our veterinary students and for west texas a&m pre-veterinary students as part of our vero program green said
a graduate of colorado state university veneklasen is recognized worldwide as an industry leader in equine reproduction and cloning and has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation for more than 25 years he opened timber creek veterinary hospital in 1989 after working as resident veterinarian at 3-d ranch in canadian texas and at fulton ranch in giddings texas
veneklasen is a member of the american veterinary medical association (avma) american association of equine practitioners (aaep) texas veterinary medical association (tvma) society for theriogenology american association of wildlife veterinarians american embryo transfer association and international embryo transfer society
he also was awarded with the texas veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory diagnostician of the year award in 1999
dr gregg veneklasen has played a substantial role in our ability to offer large animal externship opportunities for our students in the texas panhandle and in working with our vero team to ensure the educational impact we make truly benefits the veterinary and pre-veterinary students at the cvm and wtamu green said
wendler joined wtamu following a six-year tenure as chancellor of southern illinois university (siu) carbondale
before joining siu wendler served as vice chancellor for planning and system integration at the texas a&m university system and as executive assistant to the president of the dean of the college of architecture as well as other administrative and faculty roles at texas a&m
the new york native earned an associates degree from the state university of new york at farmingdale a bachelors degree in environmental design from texas a&m a masters degree in architecture from the university of california berkeley and a phd from the university of texas at austin
dr walter wendler has been an outstanding partner in the vero initiative green said in his three years as wtamu president we have worked together to break ground on the new vero facility and the new tvmdl building; establish clinical rotations in the texas panhandle for fourth-year veterinary students; and create a 2+2 educational program that will allow texas a&m veterinary students to spend two years of their veterinary education in the panhandle before completing their dvm degrees in college station
these combined efforts will offer immediate engagement and additional unique and readily applicable experiences for dvm students who want to pursue food animal and production medicine as a career path she said
wilson joined tcfa as government affairs director and was named vice president before being named president in 2006 during wilsons career at tcfa he has been the associations point person on state and national legislative and regulatory issues for cattle feeders
during his tenure with tcfa wilson has successfully garnered support and funding for research programs in agriculture and has worked to the benefit of producers and consumers alike in the fed-cattle industry and beyond
wilson has chaired and served on a number of national cattle industry projects committees and executive committees and has been recognized with the gerald w thomas outstanding agriculturist award from texas tech university; a wtamu first choice award for support; a texas a&m agrilife distinguished texan in agriculture award; and is a 2001 texas tech distinguished alumnus of the college of agricultural sciences and natural resources
mr ross wilson is another strong advocate for our vero initiative green said the work he does with the tcfa in representing more than 200 cattle feedyards in texas oklahoma and new mexico and more than 4 500 feeder members in several states that contribute to the production of almost 30 percent of the nations fed beef supply has an enormous impact on texas the us and the world and together with the tcfa behind us the cvm will do its part in supporting the tcfas mission by graduating the food animal veterinarians who will work to sustain the industry
the deans impact award is intended to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the college recipients can be within the college from the campus from the texas a&m system or friends of the college
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
vaccination coverage of up to 95 percent might be required to eliminate yellow fever epidemics in high-risk transmission areas in africa a new study from texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) researcher dr martial ndeffo has found in other areas of west africa and the equatorial region of latin america a 90 percent vaccination coverage may be required to achieve elimination
vaccination coverage refers to the estimated percentage of individuals in a given area who have been immunized against a disease currently the world health organization (who) recommends a vaccination coverage of 60-80 percent to protect at-risk populations from yellow fever
this vaccination threshold is defined in the whos 2016 eliminate yellow fever epidemics (eye) strategy which aims to eliminate yellow fever outbreaks by 2026 in addition to achieving 60- 80 percent population-level immunity through vaccination the strategy also includes preventing international spread of yellow fever and containing outbreaks rapidly
our research shows that the current who recommendation is suboptimal for achieving global elimination of yellow fever epidemics ndeffo said though it may be sufficient to eliminate yellow fever outbreaks in a few countries most countries will require higher vaccination coverage at least in some regions of those countries
yellow fever widely affects communities in tropical areas of africa and latin america it is estimated to cause between 29 000 and 60 000 deaths annually recent large-scale outbreaks in brazil angola and the democratic republic of congo have stressed the need for yellow fever elimination
some countries are well on their way to achieve the required vaccination coverage while some countries are lagging behind and will surely need substantial assistance from the international community ndeffo said
ndeffo developed a model to predict the spread of yellow fever that takes into account multiple contributing factors from this model they were able to estimate the vaccination threshold required for elimination of yellow fever in different regions
several factors contribute to the variation in yellow fever transmission risk between and within countries these include mosquito density local temperature and human exposure to mosquito (driven by socio-economic factors) among others ndeffo said our research clearly shows that optimal vaccination strategies should account for local heterogeneity (variation between communities) in yellow fever transmission risk
the study published in the journal of infectious diseases provides possible insight into how public health officials should approach the eradication of other infectious diseases
similar studies are needed for other diseases targeted for global elimination as they will provide new insights into control efforts needed to achieve disease elimination at different geographical scales ndeffo said
this study also serves as a reminder to the unaffected world that yellow fever is still a major issue
though much progress has been made in the global fight against yellow fever much more needs to be done to achieve global elimination ndeffo said yellow fever remains a major global health problem and vaccination recommendations for those traveling to endemic countries should be taken very seriously
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
two faculty researchers at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) have received funding from morris animal foundation for studies they began last spring with the goal of improving equine health and the future of the veterinary industry
dr noah cohen a professor in the cvms department of large animal clinical sciences (vlcs) and dr terje raudsepp a professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) are leading two of the 12 projects receiving grants from morris animal foundation this year
cohens study exploring a new vaccine strategy for strangles began april 2019 and is projected to last for two years morris animal foundation is granting cohen more than $152 000 to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a new vaccine against strangles an infection caused by the streptococcus equi bacteria
strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection and the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease in horses worldwide cohen said in the studys description a safer and more effective vaccine strategy against strangles will greatly improve the prevention of this global equine health challenge
although strangles is an ancient disease of horses a safe and effective vaccine has remained elusive said cohen who also serves as associate department head for research and graduate studies and patsy link chair in equine research at the cvm we are hopeful the new approach were taking might address this need to be able to improve the health and well-being of horses
in march 2019 raudsepp began her new three-year study titled exploring the genetics behind stallion fertility the missing link with more than $121 000 from morris animal foundation this study is investigating the role of the male-specific y chromosome which is not present in the current reference genome that was based on a female horse
findings will inform breeding decisions and the development of novel interventions to prevent genetic defect transmissions not only in domestic horses but also in wild related-species including endangered grevys zebras and przewalskis horses raudsepp said in the studys description
this years grants from morris animal foundation will support researchers at 10 universities who seek to benefit equine and alpaca health through improved prevention and treatment of numerous health challenges
cohen and raudsepps studies were selected for funding by the foundations large animal scientific advisory board for their potential to save lives preserve health and advance veterinary medicine
each of these studies has the potential to improve the lives of horses in significant ways and we are very proud to support these innovative researchers in their efforts said dr janet patterson-kane morris animal foundation chief scientific officer our equine and alpaca companions deserve the healthiest lives we can give them
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
story by dorian martin
a groundbreaking partnership between texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and west texas a&m universitys (wtamu) ) paul engler college of agriculture & natural sciences (pecans) has created an infrastructure that connects students and researchers from the two texas a&m university system entities to the citizens of the texas panhandle including producers of a significant portion of the nations food livestock industry as well as with rural veterinarians
this partnership known as the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program is an outgrowth of cvms serving every texan every day initiative that was launched in 2009 vero was created through the combined vision of dr eleanor green the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m and dr dean hawkins then-dean of pecans
the partnership places senior cvm faculty members including vero program director dr dee griffin vero academic coordinator dr dan posey and vero research director dr paul morley on wtamus campus in canyon where they work collaboratively with wtamus department of agricultural sciences to support the citizens students and stakeholders of west texas
vero was designed to address the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the rural communities and to meet the needs of the food animal industry located in the texas panhandle and surrounding service areas said dr lance kieth department head of wtamus department of agricultural sciences the premise of the vero program is to attract students from rural communities to university pre-veterinary training programs help prepare them for admission to veterinary schools of medicine and then have them return to the rural communities to live and practice their profession
vero taps into wtamus prime location in canyon which is at the heart of the us food livestock industry
approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are fed or finished in the region which includes the texas panhandle and parts of oklahoma kansas colorado and new mexico the area is home to 25 million beef cattle at any given time as well as a large number of dairy cattle and swine
one of the reasons this initiative is so unique is that while many veterinary schools in the country were set up in strong agriculture areasparticularly those in universities with land grant status such as texas a&mthat is no longer the case morley said when these veterinary schools were established 100-125 years ago cattle and horses were everywhere now while many of those schools work to maintain ties to agriculture they are not located where the animals are concentrated
the vero program also encourages both wtamu and cvm students to learn more about the unique opportunities that are available for veterinarians serving rural communities
one of the really neat things about being a veterinarian in a rural community is that youre part of the community you work with the school board fair board church board with the 4-h club the ffa the boy scouts; you have science projects cooking in your clinic you own that community and they own you and they love it griffin said
that introduction to the importance of rural veterinary medicine starts early for wtamu students who are taught by the cvms vero faculty
for example posey teaches a foundational agriculture leadership course for wtamu freshmen who are interested in becoming veterinarians he uses these courses to help students transition from high school to college and to set them on a path to be ready for veterinary school
in addition the vero faculty also serve as advisers and mentors to pre-veterinary medicine students at wtamu as well as for those at eight other higher education institutions in the texas panhandle
this year there were more than 300 freshmen in wtamus department of agricultural sciences of those more than a third were enrolled in pre-veterinary advising programs with a total of 269 wtamu pre-veterinary students enrolled in the fall 2019 semester
the secret is out the combination of our location in the major livestock production region of the state/nation and the high-quality affordable education available at wtamu has resulted in large enrollment increases in animal science and pre-veterinary programs said dr kevin pond wtamus pecans dean students are coming from across texas and the nation our new state-of-the-art facilities and expanding number of excellent faculty will continue to attract the best and brightest students interested in animal agriculture and careers in veterinary medicine
in addition kieth pointed out that students who choose to attend wtamu for their pre-veterinary training will reduce their overall cost of pursuing a doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) degree because of the affordability of wtamus pre-veterinarian program
vero also offers multiple avenues to bring cvm students from college station to canyon so they see first-hand the many opportunities that are available for working in west texas
for example cvm students have the opportunity to participate in the intensive six-day vero food animal production & rural practice tour that involves visits to a variety of companies involved in the texas panhandle food animal industry as well as to rural veterinary practices that program recently celebrated the milestone of having its 100thcvm veterinary student participate in the tour
additionally the vero food animal & rural practice summer internship program provides cvm students intensive training opportunities while working full-time in the daily activities of beef dairy and swine operations as well as with rural veterinary practices fifteen veterinary students have spent the summer in the panhandle in the programs first three years and because of its increased popularity posey estimates that 10 veterinary students will participate next year
during their yearlong fourth-year clinical rotations with the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) cvm students currently also have the opportunity to participate in an equine dentistry rotation and a community connections rotation led by the cvms veterinary emergency team (vet)
the community connections rotation focuses on helping animal industries develop continuity of operations plans in the event of a natural disaster or an infectious disease epidemic
cvm students have designed a plan to guide professionals if for example foot-and-mouth infection was diagnosed in the panhandle so the feed yards that we work with would have a plan to keep it out of their feed yard posey said
there are even more opportunities in store for the cvms veterinary students; starting in may 2020 fourth-year cvm students can also participate in a number of panhandle-specific clinical rotations that will allow them to get experience in feedlots dairies and mixed practices working and learning in the region two weeks at a time
in addition to the growing education and outreach programs vero is expanding its research agenda through hiring additional faculty members and researchers the research being undertaken is directly tied to industrys needs
the tremendous numbers of animals located in the region provide a huge economic boon for the state having research faculty out here addressing important research problems is a win-win for everyone morley said what were promoting in our research program is a strong tie to the industry in terms of hearing their important needswhat problems they need us to work on and then performing research that helps them to be financially successful and environmentally sustainable
for more information on vero visit vetmedtamuedu/vero
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr angela arenas an assistant professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary pathobiology (vtpb) has been awarded a $5 million research grant from the defense threat reduction agency (dtra) a combat support agency within the united states department of defense (dod) that will fund a five-year project to produce the first comprehensive study of brucellosis in the republic of cameroon
as part of this study arenas her team at texas a&m and members of the laboratoire national vétérinaire du cameroun (lanavet) in yaoundé cameroon will evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis in the north far-north and west regions of the central african nation; the team also will work to cultivate the cameroonian governments capacity to better prevent detect and respond to brucellosis
i am really excited to receive this grant arenas said our project aligns with the vision of texas a&m and the cvm through its international outreach; it provides a great opportunity to contribute to a disease that is endemic that has such a direct effect on cameroonians because brucella affects humans livestock and wildlife this is a ‘one health problem
this grant exemplifies the global impact of our universitys infectious disease research dr arenas is very passionate about using her research expertise to help developing countries such as cameroon control brucellosis in resource-limited settings said dr ramesh vemulapalli professor and vtpb department chair im very thrilled that she has secured such a large grant from the dod to support her research program
brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease that while not as common in the united statesand practically eradicated hereoccurs more frequently in africa the bacteria cause devastating losses to the livestock industry and small-scale holders across the african content
brucellosis is considered an endemic disease which means that people in africa are used to living with it arenas said neglected diseases usually affect the most vulnerable people often in developing countries
dtra and the dod are interested in working to better control brucellosis as it could be used in bioterrorism; reducing the incidence of the pathogen also reduces the possibility of the bacteria being used in biological warfare
to do this arenas and the project team will work to develop counter measures to stop the diseases spread by creating an improved diagnostic tool that will increase cameroonians capacities for diagnosing the disease
we are looking to create something that is cost-effective deployable reliable easy to implement and that can be used in locations where there arent a lot of people she said this research will also provide us a better understanding of the situation of the disease in cameroon that will hopefully allow their government to develop a good vaccination strategy to control the disease
in getting the project started arenas and her team will travel to africa in october to help conduct the inaugural ministerial meeting which will be attended by ministers government officials and other stakeholders
as part of the sustainability component of the program arenas will bring doctoral students from cameroon to texas a&m to train them on brucellaresearch techniques which will enable them to share their newfound knowledge and skills with their research colleagues upon their return home
the next phase of the project will be a comprehensive prevalence study across cameroon along with additional education and extension activities
arenas plans to publish her research findings which she hopes will better inform future policymakers and veterinary and public health professionals
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when linda buehler a third-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) decided to visit her aunt and uncle in alaska during the summer she could only hope that there would happen to be a veterinarian with whom she could work
luckily petersburg a small town of 3 000 people has dr ken hill the owner of waterways veterinary clinic who invited buehler not only to work in his clinic for several weeks but also to travel with him on the m/v hallie a fishing boat re-designed as a mobile veterinary clinic
for one week hill buehler and a veterinary assistant visited zarembo island and wrangell island in southeast alaska to provide veterinary care to animals owned by people who live in those remote areas working on a boat may be a regular activity for hill and his staff but it was a new and exciting experience for buehler
you have to be very adaptive (on the boat) she said it was supposed to double as the appointment room and surgery suite but we ended up taking off all of the appointment supplies and just doing the entire appointment on the dock because its easier than getting dogs into the boat
though exam tools were easily moved the team still needed the sterile environment in the boat for surgeries
surgery was interesting because it was really tight quarters buehler said you would have three people plus a dog with the table down and no room to move so you had to have out everything you needed for the surgery as well as backup supplies in case something went wrong
luckily they were always stationed in harbors with calm waters so they didnt have to worry about the boat rocking in the middle of a procedure
the people on the alaskan islands buehler visited have no access to regular veterinary care unless they pay the expenses to travel by boat or plane to a nearby city so hill and his staff make regular trips on the m/v hallie while also offering phone consultations between visits
i wasnt aware of how limited veterinary care is in alaska buehler said the biggest thing thats been on my mind is ‘they need more care in these remote areas which is a problem too in rural areas of texas but at least here you can drive
when not on the boat buehler worked in the clinic by assisting in surgeries giving input on physical exams and taking every opportunity she got to learn from hill and the other veterinary staff members
for every patient that came in dr hill would go over the physical exam and do more of the communication stuff then i would come in and also listen to the heart buehler said he would normally ask me ‘what do you hear or ‘what would you diagnose this as
then anytime that he got results back he would always have me look at them and say ‘what would you tell the owner if this was your patient she said
buehler was also able to learn about procedures she had never seen while working in texas clinics such as how to remove porcupine quills
i had never seen a porcupine in real life but that happens all the time there dogs chase porcupines and get quills everywhere and then they try to paw them out and quills get stuck in their paws she said
removal is really simple; the dog is sedated and then you pull out the quills just straight out like how they went in buehler said so overall its nothing too intense but it was interesting to see even if its not necessarily a skill im going to use in texas
though the clinic is better equipped than the boat it still has fewer resources than buehler was used to most samples are sent away for testing by airplane and any animals needing x-rays must be taken to the local human hospital
however the reduced resources do not have any negative impact on the clinics veterinary team who have developed ways to work around their limitations and still provide patients with the best care possible
we hardly had any stressed patients buehler said they were normally happy to be there and just super calm so that was one thing that i really appreciated i hope to get that in whatever clinic im working at in the future
buehler grew up in dallas but has lived all over the world and plans to spend her veterinary career working in new locations possibly even alaska one day
she is still deciding whether to pursue private practice or focus on a career in epidemiology and public health which she developed a passion for while earning her undergraduate degree at texas a&m in applied mathematics with a biology track
in the meantime buehler plans to gain more mentorship and experience in veterinary medicine and hopes to serve as a relief veterinarian at waterways veterinary clinic during the summers she looks forward to returning to alaska both to practice veterinary medicine and to see more of the beautiful scenery and wildlife
i saw some black bears a lot of porcupines humpback whales seals and sea lions she said i went kayaking one day and a seal came up right next to us; it was crazy it was really cool to see and really unexpected so it kind of scared me a little bit!
being in alaska definitely put the idea of living in alaska more of an option than it wouldve been before the summer she said i think it would be a fun place to live i really like the work-life balance the atmosphere and the people there the sense of community is definitely something im looking for in my life
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
click here to read about the vets first deployment this month to cameron county
members of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) hadnt even put their feet back on the ground in college station before receiving a second deployment request for assistance related to the catastrophic flooding resulting from tropical depression imelda
twenty-one vet members will be joined by three agents from the texas a&m agrilife extension service in providing veterinary medical assistance in chambers county where flooding from imelda is reportedly worse than it was during hurricane harvey
there the team will assist in caring for animals evacuated to an emergency shelter and anticipate doing field-based work as flood waters begin to recede
the texas a&m university system will once again be building on the combined strength of its entities through the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) texas a&m agrilife and the vet in responding to this disaster said dr wesley bissett vet director and associate director of emergency management the vet has worked in chambers county beforeduring hurricane harveyand it is always a privilege to serve the people and animals of texas during their time of need
the animals affected during disasters are inherently worth our efforts and were thankful that texas counties are committed to a robust emergency response for animals he said
the team will depart college station friday morning and students on the cvms community connections fourth-year clinical rotation will join the team on monday
the vet is anticipating additional requests for assistance following texas gov greg abbott declaring a state of emergency in 13 counties
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr noah cohen a professor of large animal internal medicine in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) large animal clinical sciences department (vlcs) has been recognized with the 2019 clinical research award from the american veterinary medical association (avma) for his contributions to equine medicine
the avma selected cohen for the award because his knowledge and expertise in the design and analysis of research and clinical trials is well regarded and he is renowned nationally and internationally in the field of equine health according to the avma
cohen who also serves as associate department head for research and graduate studies and patsy link chair in equine research at the cvm has participated in and led numerous research studies in the fields of equine colic equine racing injuries and equine infectious diseases including pathogenesis immunity epidemiology control and prevention of rhodococcus equi (r equi) infections
this award is a great honor and reflects more about the environment for clinical research at texas a&m university and my co-workers than about any individual cohen said the support and resources that weve received has been the cornerstone of our success
as director of the equine infectious disease laboratory at the cvm cohen has made great strides toward the prevention or treatment of r equi pneumonia which can cause severe disease or death in young foals
though antibiotics are the usual method for treating r equi cohen and his team of researchers including collaborators from harvard medical school have developed the first vaccine effective against this form of pneumonia the use of immunotherapeutics (such as vaccines and antibodies) rather than antibiotics can provide a basis for control and prevention while reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance
in collaboration with colleagues at the university of georgia the equine infectious disease laboratory has documented the emergence of r equi resistant to antibiotics in many states including texas cohen said in one recent study 76 percent of 100 farms surveyed in central kentucky had antibiotic-resistant r equi in their soil
they are also exploring the use of host-directed immune responses as another option to treat r equi which would allow the host to attack the pathogen without the need for antibiotics
cohen who earned his veterinariae medicinae doctoris (vmd) degree from the university of pennsylvania and phd from johns hopkins university has dedicated his career to equine internal medicine and has contributed to more than 283 publications
the clinical research award is one of several excellence in research awards through which the avma recognizes the expertise of veterinarians honors and rewards them for their work and provides a showcase for veterinary research that is not always in the public eye
the awards were presented at the national veterinary scholars symposium where cohen received $2 500 and a crystal award
the avma clinical research award was established in 1955 and is presented annually to an active avma member who has made significant contributions to the diagnosis prevention or treatment of diseases in animals
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) phd student hadil al muhisen and former student dr ziad naufal were instrumental in establishing the arab toxicologists association (ata) within the society of toxicology (sot) the international professional toxicology organization in spring 2019
founded in 1961 the sot consists of scientists from academic institutions government and industry around the world and includes numerous groups many of which are based on countries of origin
ata will build on the pharmacologys and toxicologys deep roots in the arab scientific community that stretch back to the 9thcentury
according to aramcoworld the information that circulated in arabic alchemical manuals at that time was considered some of the best scientific work and arab alchemists were known for creating amalgamations and elixirs that used a variety of mineral chemical botanical and animal substances
however arab scientists leadership in pharmacology and toxicology has diminished in modern timesand naufal believes that ata can respark interest
i was always intrigued by the idea of connecting toxicologists of arab and middle eastern origins together since the discipline in all its aspects currently is not as widely practiced in the middle east/north africa (mena) region said naufal who is a board-certified toxicologist for chevrons health environmental and safety division in houston and an officer of the lone star sot regional chapter i think that creating ata as a special interest group as part of sot is a great opportunity for outreach to arab toxicologists from all over the world
ata will create a network of scientists who can help identify chemicals in the environment that could harm nature and human health to accomplish this goal the association plans to develop communication channels offer professional development opportunities recognize scientists who have made an impact in toxicology and provide financial awards to outstanding post-doctoral fellows and graduate students to support their research
naufal who was recently appointed an adjunct faculty member in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) credits al muhisen with providing the impetus to create arab toxicologists association
i met hadil last year as part of an engagement with the toxicology graduate students at texas a&m he said we talked briefly and hadil expressed a very similar interest as mine in starting what became ata so i promised that i would support her if she can spearhead the effort she did and the rest is history bottom line is this wouldnt have happened without hadils outreach high energy and passion
al muhisen who is from saudi arabia wants to mobilize arab scientists to work with scientific colleagues governmental agencies and industry around the world to make the world a better place she also believes ata will expand opportunities for female scientists in the arab world
if you want to make the world a better place you need the majority of the world to work together she said this is one of the major aims of toxicologiststo make the world a better place and also share the ideas how we can help our countries
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
tori chambers a third-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has a passion for rural veterinary medicine
her experience this summer working for four weeks as an extern at quitman animal clinic a rural mixed animal practice about an hour north of tyler has only strengthened her desire to spend her veterinary career in a rural area
chambers interest in rural medicine comes from her desire to serve the needs of rural american pet and livestock owners especially because of the shortage of veterinarians in many rural parts of the country
a lot of people in rural communities dont have access to veterinary care so if you can join an established practice and provide that youre impacting a lot of people really substantially she said theres definitely a need for veterinarians in rural communities to provide that service for people so they dont have to drive 30 minutes or an hour to receive medical care
living in an apartment above the clinic chambers was able to fully immerse herself in the role of a rural veterinarian while being constantly on call for any cases that came in
the doctors would take me in the room for the physical exams and then id do my physical exam and share my findings with them chambers said theyd confirm what i saw and add some things it helped me realize what parts of my physical exam were lacking and what things i had skipped over so it was good to work on those skills
they would also go through blood work with me and say ‘all right what are your thoughts or theyd grill me ‘what are your top differentials (diagnoses) for this what would you do she said as i was there longer they had me thinking up treatment plans for how i would treat (cases) and what dosages i would use
along with physical exams and lab work chambers got experience in a variety of surgery types and emergency cases
i was able to stitch up several lacerations and assist with some surgeries chambers said i also helped work and castrate a bunch of cattle which is really cool because i hadnt worked with cattle before very much
overall i got the full spectrum of all of the different things you can do as a mixed animal veterinarian she said i even helped with some reproductive work that they did there it was a really good experience
working in the clinic also allowed chambers to build confidence in her abilities to diagnose problems develop solutions and interact with clients and patients
it pointed out things that i probably should go back and study more and things to focus on in the coming semester but the clinic staff were all pretty impressed with my case-management skills she said when i had 10 different ongoing clients i was able to keep track of who needed what medicine and say ‘oh hey we still need to do x-rays on this dog
growing up in longview with cats and dogs chambers love for animals began at an early age when her family moved to just outside of nashville she also worked on a horse ranch to get more experience with large animals
she attended berry college in georgia to study animal science with a pre-vet concentration and to participate in their equestrian program before coming to texas a&m to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian
i love horses and i hadnt realized how much i missed working with them until i worked at quitman chambers said my husband and i both like the more rural setting being out in the country away from the noise and traffic of the city
after graduation chambers hopes to join an established rural mixed animal practice where she can collaborate with other veterinarians and have the opportunity to form mentor relationships her time at quitman animal clinic gave her a good idea of the office culture she hopes to find in her future workplaces
the best part of the whole externship was the culture there chambers said they were very intentional about the kind of behavior and communication that they set up there the technicians and the doctors had a mutual respect for one another and they both valued the skills and roles that each played
chambers externship this summer not only solidified her plans for her future career but also helped provide her with the experience and confidence necessary to get there and to serve the needs of the people and animals of rural america
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
raine lunde-young a doctoral student in the ramadoss research group at texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been awarded a prestigious f31 predoctoral grant from the national institutes of health (nih)
nih f31 grants are unique in that they collectively recognize the quality of lunde-youngs research the excellence of the research lab in which she works the merits of her faculty mentor and the exemplary institutional environment these fellowships are highly competitive
as lunde-youngs mentor dr jayanth (jay) ramadoss the director of perinatal research laboratory and an associate professor in cvms physiology & pharmacology department (vtpp) supported her throughout the proposal writing process from its inception to submission
im really grateful for dr ramadoss support an nih f31 grant is a testament to your aptitude and potential as a researcher as well as your mentors and their labs capabilities to support your career growth lunde-young said it really helps get your toe in the door it tells the scientific community that you can write a competitive grant early in your career
the nih f31 fellowship grant is valued at more than $100 000 and subsidizes lunde-youngs tuition fees and stipendfor three years as she investigates fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (fasd) in ramadoss research group
raine is a very hardworking student who already has invested more than a decade in the field of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders ramadoss said the nihand the research society in alcoholism last year through one of their most prestigious awardsrecognized raines long-term commitment to this field i believe she will do wonders as she moves on to a postdoctoral fellowship and will continue to be recognized for her contributions to the field
the f31 grant adds value to the career development of the graduate student as well as to the lab the cvm faculty member said also its about the message it sends having these grants in the lab means the lab is able to train scientists for a promising career
according to the national organization on fetal alcohol syndrome an estimated 40 000 newbornsapproximately 1 in 100 babiesare affected by fasd each year fasd is more prevalent than down syndrome cerebral palsy sudden infant death syndrome (sids) cystic fibrosis and spina bifida combined fasd can result in physical defects damage to the brain and central nervous system and social and behavioral issues
while its common knowledge that alcohol consumption during pregnancy places children at risk incidence has not decreased in fact a recent study indicated that1 in 10 report drinking alcohol during pregnancy
lunde-young is working with ramadoss to study how fetal brain damage from developmental alcohol exposure is happening
despite more than 30 years of research we still dont know how alcohol causes many of these neuro-developmental problems lunde-young said surprisingly an area that is understudied is alcohols effects on the developing brain vasculature the brain vasculature is important because during development blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to support healthy brain growth diminished blood vessel function could profoundly affect nutrient and oxygen delivery which could lead to an array of developmental consequences involving the brain
under this nih f31 grant lunde-young will use ultrahigh-frequency ultrasonography to noninvasively study regional blood flow distribution in the fetal brain she also plans to assess blood vessel function by simulating in vivo-like conditions (ie temperature ph etc) in an ex vivosetting outside the body and will evaluate how these blood vessels respond to changes in pressure
shes using state-of-the-art technology to image the fetal brain to determine how fast blood is flowing in mainly small vessels supplying different brain regions ramadoss said she will evaluate whether different parts of the brain are responding differently
these vessels are less than a millimeter in diameter so until recently imaging was not really an option lunde-young said now with technological advances we can really get a clear picture of how many hemodynamic parameters are being altered in response to alcohol
lunde-youngs overall goal for her work that will be supported by the f31 grant is to lay a foundation for developing potential therapeutic or pharmacological intervention studies that can manipulate improve or ameliorate some of the effects of alcohol exposure on development she added
this research will give us an understanding so that we can move forward and think about treatment options she said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
more than 270 animals seized in south texass cameron county will be cared for by the texas a&m veterinary emergency team (vet) which was activated wednesday night through a request by the texas division of emergency management (tdem)
animal responders from the texas a&m university systemincluding 12 vet members six fourth-year students on the community connections clinical rotation and members of the texas veterinary medical reserve corps (tvmrc)departed college station thursday (sept 12) for the rio grande valley where the vet will provide veterinary medical evaluations and stabilization for any issues related to the case
the 270 dogs and a single cat were found in a warehouse in los fresnos after a cameron county public health (ccph) animal control officer and a cameron county sheriff deputy responded to complaints of loud barking according to news reports
during what is anticipated to be a seven-day deployment vet members will support county officials at the cameron county animal shelter in managing the volume of animals as well as providing veterinary medical care for malnutrition and in treating other issues related to the conditions in which the animals were being kept
cameron county is doing an incredible job of getting the resources in that they need to get these animals to a healthy state and their goal is to adopt them into the community so our team will be working to ensure all of the dogs are happy and healthy and ready to join a new family said dr wesley bissett associate professor and vet director
its a neat thing to be a part of the texas a&m veterinary emergency team texas division of emergency management and the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences are committed to serving the needs of texas said dr wesley bissett associate professor and vet director while each deployment is unique in its own way this request demonstrates how the vet has built the capacity to respond to disasters from the texas panhandle to the rio grande valley and from el paso to the gulf coast
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
this year the partnership for environmental education and rural health (peer) program at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is celebrating 20 years of promoting science education in texas middle and high schools
with interactive lessons exciting guest speakers and relevant topics peer brings the joys of science into classrooms that would not normally have access to high-quality teaching materials the program operates under the philosophy that by increasing the quality of science education that young students receive there is a greater chance that they will pursue higher education and stem careers in the future
in july 1999 peer began with a grant from the national institutes of health (nih) with a title that inspired the programs name environmental and rural health education partnership and kicked off a series of other grants and supplements that would eventually raise more than $85 million in extramural federal funds over 20 years
these grants were made possible by the dedicated work of dr larry johnson peer principle investigator and cvm professor of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) and dr william klemm director of peer and vibs senior professor of neuroscience
larry and i discovered that we both had a passion about k-12 public education particularly in improving science teaching in rural schools klemm said we both were active in research and wanted to be able to share some of that excitement with young people and were encouraged during peers early development by then cvm dean dr john shadduck who saw the value of science promotion among youth in the pipeline of general and veterinary education
even before peer began johnson did scientist visits to his sons classes which created a passion for teaching science to younger generations
he said that because most kids are interested in animals its easy to turn a lesson on animals into a lesson on human veterinary or even environmental science plus the realistic colorful anatomical specimens he takes to classrooms help grab kids interests as well
today peer supports stem education in middle and high schools in all 50 states by providing hundreds of free teaching resources online sending scientists and student fellows to schools across texas and hosting teacher workshops peer has even managed to reach students all over the world
the success of peer has resulted from efforts of a large team that includes texas a&m research teaching and clinical faculty public school teachers on peer staff peer website and general staff undergraduate graduate and veterinary students veterinary technicians and schools and teachers throughout the us
information on the website alone peertamuedu is downloaded by 2 000 teachers each year impacting 250 000 k-12 students
after peer received the first grant which funded k-12 programs in environmental health science johnson applied for and received a second seven-year grant from the nih which required peer to also include math english and social studies in its curriculum
we hired a teacher to make sure we addressed teaching standards required to be taught in schools and a professional child story author who wrote stories about how middle school kids traveled in time johnson said in the story they traveled back to the building of king tuts tomb but someone got sick so they had to investigate the routes of exposureis it ingestion inhalation injection or skin contact then they would come up with a solution using math and science and express it using english skills in a social studies setting
this story tuts revenge was joined by five other time travel adventure stories that incorporated all of those themes and more in the school subject integrated curriculum
soon after peer received two national science foundation (nsf) grants that funded public school presentations by texas a&m graduate students by working with other colleges at texas a&m johnson and klemm recruited students from all stem areas who were interested in sharing their enthusiasm and interests in math and science with k-12 students
we had students from all over the universityengineering math physics agriculture the cvm and more klemm said the grad students made weekly visits and presentations in their assigned schools in the brazos valley served as content consultants to teachers and developed lesson plans many of which are still available on our website
over the past 20 years peer has also held teacher professional-development workshops across texas to help middle school teachers stay current on scientific advancements and aware of peer resources; peer has offered workshops in locations ranging from el paso to mount pleasant and from amarillo to mcallen
teachers use these to gain continuing education credits and upgrade their content knowledge klemm said in texas middle-school science teachers are not required to have been a science major in college we think that many of them need our help so we do what we can
part of the money supporting these workshops comes from peers most recent nih grant awarded in 2018 to support the development of an app for teachers and students to use for accessing peer teaching materials related to one health that also cover knowledge standards teachers must transmit to their students
it also supports additional teacher workshops which present a great opportunity for peer to gather input for developing the app and to show teachers how the app can best be used in their classrooms once its fully-functional
as we present the latest models (of the app) we get feedback from the teachers to improve them johnson said the teachers are required to teach specific topics such as how to use equipment or rationalize a problem we present our ‘one health learning materials in a way that enables the teacher to address those standards
the apps student-centered format empowers students to select their own learning activities and move at their own pace creating a new motivation for learning according to klemm
we are excited by this novel initiative and our just-completed first teacher workshop indicates that teachers are going to like this new student-centered approach he said
in his 20 years with peer johnson has spoken to 35 000 kids in their schools and has been awarded two texas a&m association of former students (afs) distinguished achievement awards for teaching and outreach and the texas a&m bush excellence award for faculty in public service
johnson plans to move into retirement within the next couple of years but still finds time to teach students all over texas about the joys of science and to use veterinary medicine to encourage them to learn about their own health
given that the peer program just began the second year of a five-year $125 million sepa project funded by the national institute of general medical sciences within the nih johnson will leave peer with two years of funds after his retirement
he has no doubt that peer will continue as a strong source of outreach for the cvm after he leaves especially because of the many other cvm faculty members involved in peer including dr christine budke professor and vibs associate department head
peer is a wonderful program and i hope that it will continue to have a positive impact on future generations budke said i enjoy working with a group of people who are dedicated to encouraging future generations to pursue careers in stem fields while creating curricula for adult learners is rewarding there is something special about introducing middle school students to the joys of science
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the sweeping vistas of west texas offer many opportunities to practice veterinary medicine–and hannah johnson wanted to explore her options firsthand
to do so the third-year texas a&m university veterinary student decided to devote part of her summer participating in the veterinary education research and outreach (vero) food production tour
the six-day tour offered through an innovative partnership between texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and west texas a&m university (wtamu) in canyon takes students to different sites involved with the food animal production industry as well as to rural veterinary clinics
for me the tour was a chance to see more of the medicine i want to practice in west texas and to meet new people connected to the field johnson said
living in rural west texas and working with animals has always appealed to the idalou resident who is entering her third year as a veterinary student; she sees practicing in a city like idalouwith its population of about 2 300 peopleas an opportunity to serve where veterinary services are needed most
i grew up in small town texas and fell in love with west texas when my family moved to idalou before my junior year of high school said johnson who earned her bachelors degree in animal science from texas tech university in 2017
i cant say there was ever a defining moment were i decided to become a vet i was one of those kids who just always wanted to be one she said i love working with animals and i love the medicine aspect of it as well working as a technician through undergrad just cemented my desire to pursue vet school
the food animal production & rural practice tour which first started in 2008 is based at wtamu which is situated near a significant percentage of the beef industry approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are fed within 200 miles of canyon
students visited clinics in muleshoe panhandle dimmit and dalhart where they saw a wide range of veterinary practices that serve the needs of their rural communities they offer traditional veterinary services for their food animal producers but offer veterinary care including acupuncture for their companion animals and equine clients
they also saw how these practices interacted with the beef cattle dairy and swine industries the students also learned more about the animal production industry through visiting a holstein feed yard a packing plant wtamus meat science facility and texas cattle feeders associations diagnostic lab
johnson who was among 13 aggies who participated in the 2019 food animal production & rural practice tour found the trip deepened her knowledge and sparked her interest
i learned so much about practicing medicine in the food animal industries johnson said it is very different from small animal medicine where each individual patient is brought in versus with food animals where the herd is the focus
ultimately the tour is designed to provide insights into potential career paths that students might not otherwise consider
when they go to the dairies and feedlots they see how these animals are actually cared for and the important leadership role that the veterinarian plays said dr dan posey vero academic coordinator its all about taking care of animals
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
fourth-year veterinary students will begin clinical rotations in the texas panhandle in 2020 new students will begin enrolling in veterinary classes at vero facility to start their first year of veterinary school in 2021
to read the full text of greens speech click here
canyon texasstudents from the texas panhandle wont have to travel far from home to become aggie veterinarians thanks to a new 2+2 program announced thursday morning by west texas a&m (wtamu) and texas a&m universities once all the necessary approvals have been obtained veterinary students will be able to spend the first two years of their veterinary curriculum in canyon on the wtamu campus in the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) facility
during a press conference at the construction site of the $22-million vero facility being built on the wtamu campus wtamu president walter wendler texas a&m president michael young and the carl b king dean of veterinary medicine at texas a&m eleanor m green discussed the decade-long plan to bring texas a&ms top 4-ranked doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program to wtamu through the vero initiative
beginning may 2020 veterinary students wanting to work in food animal or mixed animal medicine will have the option of completing a number of new clinical rotations at the vero facility in the texas panhandle as part of their yearlong fourth-year clinical rotations
texas a&m university has been committed to extending its nationally-ranked college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences to more effectively reach citizens across the expanse of texas an example of this is the vero facility funded through our permanent university fund young said
the 2+2 program extends the reach of both texas a&m and west texas a&m which is especially critical in an area that is home to the largest food animal production region in the nation he said bringing excellent faculty here enhances the effectiveness of the college and opens new opportunities for students in the texas panhandle to become aggie veterinarians
the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is in the process of seeking approval for the 2+2 program with a plan to open the application process in the fall of 2020 and begin offering dvm classes at wtamu for an initial cohort of 20 first- and second-year dvm students beginning in the fall of 2021
through the 2+2 program veterinary students will be able to take the classes during their first two years of veterinary school through the vero program a partnership between wtamu and the cvm and then travel to college station for their final two years
those students wont be gone for long however; in their fourth year those students will have the ability to return home for a number ofclinical rotations
the new clinical rotations in the texas panhandle will offer immediate engagement and additional unique and readily applicable experiences for dvm students who want to pursue food animal and production medicine as a career path green said
these clinical rotations will provide students the opportunity to spend time in rural-practice settings with both private practitioners and texas a&m faculty members she said rotations will offer a chance to gain experience in the most important aspects of the industry in west texasincluding rotations through feedlots dairies and cow/calf swine and other livestock operations beginning in the spring 2021 semester food animal students will also have the opportunity to spend clinical rotations in the texas veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (tvmdl) located in canyon where they will learn about diagnostic laboratory medicine which is of critical importance to production animal health
in preparation to begin offering classes at wtamu the two universities have begun putting to use funds appropriated by the texas legislature during its 86th session by announcing the hiring of additional faculty members to teach in the program at the vero facility
over the next two years at nearly $2 million a year eight to 10 faculty will be hired through the legislative appropriations process to support new graduate student assistantships in the 2+2 program at west texas a&m university wendler said these students will seamlessly dovetail into the dvm program at texas a&m university which is one of the best in the nation
this program is twofold he continued it will prepare graduates for the food animal industry in one of the most concentrated meat and dairy production areas of the world and it will train veterinary students to serve rural communities in support of wtamus generational plan wt 125: from the panhandle to the world currently our pre-vet program has more than 50 students
these faculty and graduate student additions to the cvms dvm program are just two of many rural and food animal-oriented programs the cvm has initiated over the past 10 years
the texas a&m university system has committed $90 million to the state agriculture industry on the wtamu campus including funds for the 22 000-square-foot vero facility which will house the 2+2 dvm curriculum serve as a learning space to supplement the existing dvm externship programs and the new clinical rotations in the texas panhandle as well as a regional veterinary teaching center that will facilitate collaborative multidisciplinary research among scientists from across the region
we are grateful to the texas legislators for investing in this program bound to be the best of its kind as it advances the livestock industries veterinary medicine career opportunities for young people and local economy green said our vero team which includes renowned food animal faculty members who are embedded at wtamu have strengthened our ‘serving every texan every day initiative by facilitating the recruitment of veterinary school applicants with a mixed animal and large animal interest doing impactful research providing education and serving the food animal industry
team vero and the serving every texan every day memoranda of agreement with wtamu has resulted in 23 dvm students in the cvms entering classes of 21 and 22 having been recruited from rural communities many of whom came from the texas panhandle and west texas a&m university
in addition texas a&m graduates the highest number and percent of rural and mixed animal veterinarians in the nation with 33 percent of the class of 2017 and 40 percent of the class of 2018 working in food animal and mixed animal practices in rural communities
we also are excited about the new dvm fourth-year clinical rotations and the new 2+2 program that will be offered in the texas panhandle and what these programs will bring to veterinary students in all four years of their curriculum; they will have exceptional opportunities to gain hands-on experience in rural and livestock veterinary medicine in the livestock epicenter of our nation green said
these new opportunities will dovetail nicely into existing livestock veterinary programs like the long-standing food animal production tour which recently reached a milestone of introducing its 100thstudent to these industries through an activity that showcases all of what the texas panhandle has to offer in addition the food animal & rural practice summer internship program initiated in 2017 has brought dozens of cvm students to the panhandle to spend the summer gaining hands-on experience in the cattle swine and dairy industries as well as in rural veterinary practices
finally a $243 500 grant from the usdas national institute of food and agriculture (usda-nifa) received by vero director dr dee griffin in 2018 has allowed for the development initiation and support of seven veterinary-centered programs for veterinary students who travel to the texas panhandle for these opportunities
for more information contact the vero program at 806-651-2292
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
jacob willinghams early years were spent at county fairs and major livestock shows across texas
the milano native started showing pigs and eventually bought a handful of sows so he could raise his own pigs soon he was showing heifers and even today continues to raise cattle to sell to family friends
not surprisingly willinghams experience raising and showing large animals as well as growing up with his familys beloved family pets helped guide his interest toward a career in veterinary medicine
i cant remember a time when i didnt want to be a veterinarian he said
besides his early experience raising and showing livestock the first-generation aggie also kept a laser-like focus on his intended career path during his undergraduate studies at texas a&m in addition to earning a bachelors degree in animal science willingham worked as a student worker in the cvms large animal hospital where he was on call one night a week and one weekend a month to help set up the operating room for equine patients
i learned a ton he said i didnt have a lot of background in horses
yet while finishing his second year as a veterinary student at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) willingham realized that he didnt have enough knowledge about whats involved in a mixed-animal veterinary practice to make a good decision about where to focus his career
thats where the intensive six-day food animal production & rural practice tour came in organized by the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program an innovative partnership between the cvm and west texas a&m university (wtamu) in canyon the tour offers students a window into the food animal industry and rural veterinary clinics since its inception in 2008 100 students have participated in this tour
wtamu is located within 200 miles of where approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are fed and finished
i wanted to go out to west texas because thats where a lot of our beef and dairy production is willingham said i wanted to learn how a veterinarian works in that field as well as in rural areas
the vero food animal production & rural practice tour gave willingham insight into in a mixed-animal practice and the beef cattle dairy cattle and swine industries
during the tour the aspiring veterinarians also learned about companion animals farrowing operations jersey cow operations holstein feed yards and packing plants as well as wtamus meat science facility the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic lab and the texas cattle feeders association (tcfa) students heard presentations from dr amber finke at the dimmitt veterinary clinic on equestrian sports medicine and acupuncture and they met with tcfa representatives to learn more about initiatives to audit cattle welfare and legislative issues related to animal agriculture
ultimately the tour provided participants with insights into a variety of career paths that they might not otherwise have considered
i have thought about working in industry; right now i see myself possibly owning a practice one day but i initially see myself working for a practice thats well-established in a rural area willingham said i would like to stay fairly close to home but im not opposed to going to the panhandle they need good veterinarians up there
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
when sybil the camel arrived at the texas a&m large animal hospital with a serious hip injury very few believed that a successful surgery would be possible luckily thanks to the faith of her owners and skill of her surgical team sybil has become one of the first camels to fully recover from a dislocated hip
the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospitals (vmth) large animal hospital (lah) may mostly treat horses and farm animals but other species are also seen surprisingly often including a large number of camels that live as pets on texas ranches
when sybil a 7-year-old dromedary (one-humped) camel arrived at the lah she could barely walk on her left hind leg radiographs quickly revealed the problemthe camels hip joint was dislocated out of its socket and her femur had moved far away from her pelvis
this coxofemoral luxation diagnosis was heartbreaking because the options for treatment are limited and prognosis is poor for adult large animals with this condition said dr kati glass a clinical assistant professor in large animal surgery basically the bigger the animal the harder it is to get the hip back in its socket and the harder it is to keep it there
glass consulted with other veterinary surgeons to discuss sybils predicament but their recommendations were disheartening the consensus was that there was very little chance for surgery to be successful meaning that sybil would likely live a life of discomfort because of the injury and therefore should be put down
sybils owner dr ron mcmurry however insisted that glass and her team do whatever they could to try to save sybils life
it felt like i was in las vegas and i had bet my last hundred dollars mcmurry said but i felt the need to try something
mcmurry may have felt nervous going into surgery but he was also very optimistic that glass and her team would be able to fix sybils hip
dr mcmurry gave us the chance to go to surgery and to move forward if things went well but also to be mindful of her care and comfort in that if we werent successful then we knew that we had tried glass said that put us in a position to give it our all because without the surgery we knew sybil didnt have a good chance at a comfortable life; so really we didnt have much to lose
joined by large animal surgery residents drs lauren richardson and alyssa doering fourth-year veterinary students shanna keshvari and amanda armendariz and a team of anesthesia specialistsincluding drs mauricio lepiz and courtney baetge with anesthesia resident dr sarah jarosinskiglass began the surgery to fix the camels dislocated hip
finally just as the team was becoming fearful that their efforts may not be successful the joint fell back into place with a loud pop
it was this huge celebratory moment glass said then the even more difficult part started for us as surgeons because then i knew i had to do something to try to keep it there
she secured the joint in place with screws and a stainless-steel cable but radiographs taken two days after surgery showed that the implants had broken thankfully despite the failure of the cable sybils hip was still in place
glass and her team were thrilled with this success also thrilling was the fact that sybil was bright eating and recovering smoothly
they also had one other reason to celebratesybil was expecting a baby
we knew at the time of surgery that she had been recently bred but we were focused on saving sybils life at that time glass said after surgery as we saw sybil recovering we confirmed that she was still pregnant!
for now sybil is continuing her rest and rehabilitation at the lah
glass said sybil has been the perfect patient especially since she is trained to lay down stand up and move around on command during her time at the lah sybil used her charm on everyone she met even influencing veterinary students to throw her a camel-themed baby shower
for glass the mcmurry familys commitment was the critical component that allowed the chance to save sybils life and to learn valuable information about treating other camels with hip dislocations
every time we have the opportunity to take a chance on a procedure like this we learn something glass said what ive learned throughout sybils care will help me even more in the next case
glass is hopeful that when a similar case comes to her or another veterinarian in the future they can provide the owner with more options and be more optimistic about the potential outcome
sybils success gives us that opportunity to say it can work and we should try she said
sybil will soon return to her ranch in jasper texas to finishing recovering and have her baby at home
while its common for hips to reluxate (or come back out of socket) in large animals after surgery glass said that with each day that passes she is more optimistic about the joint staying in place for the rest of sybils life
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the evolutionary process that occurs when a species colonizes a new environment provides an opportunity to explore the mechanisms underlying genetic adaptation which is essential knowledge for understanding evolution and the maintenance of biodiversity
an international team of scientists led by researchers from texas a&m university and uppsala university reports that a single amino acid change in the light-sensing rhodopsin protein played a critical role when herring adapted to the red-shifted light environment in the baltic sea
the study published today in the journal pnas (doiorg/101073/pnas1908332116) reports that remarkably about one-third of all fish living in brackish or freshwater carry the same change
the atlantic and baltic herring are excellent models for evolutionary studies for two reasons according to dr leif andersson a professor in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) and uppsala university who led the study
firstly their enormous population sizes allow us to study the effects of natural selection without the disturbing stochastic changes in the frequency of gene variants that happens in small populations he said secondly the colonization of the brackish baltic sea by herring within the last 10 000 yearsfollowing the most recent glaciationprovides an opportunity to study what happens when a species adapts to a new environment
we have examined the entire genome in many populations of atlantic and baltic herring and find that a single amino acid change in the protein rhodopsin in which phenylalanine has been replaced by tyrosine played a critical role during the adaptation to the baltic sea said jason hill a scientist at uppsala university and first author on the paper
this makes a lot of sense according to the researchers since rhodopsin is a light-sensitive receptor in the retina and satellite data show that the baltic sea has a red-shifted light environment compared with the atlantic ocean because dissolved organic material absorbs blue light
a careful genetic analysis of our data shows that the evolutionary process must have been very rapid we estimate that the rhodopsin gene variant found in baltic herring increased in frequency to become the most common variant within only a few hundred years said scientist mats pettersson from uppsala university
the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine are structurally very similar and only differs by the presence of a hydroxyl (-oh) moiety in tyrosine so could this change really be so important
in fact the crystal structure of rhodopsin shows that residue 261 is located in the vicinity of the chromophore retinal where light absorption occurs andersson said
the presence of tyrosine in baltic herring rhodopsin makes light absorption red-shifted by about 10 nanometer and can thereby catch more photons in the red-shifted light environment in the baltic sea according to dr patrick scheerer at charité–universitätsmedizin berlin in germany another study co-author
when the scientists analyzed the rhodopsin sequence from more than 2 000 fish they found that about one-third of all species occurring in brackish or freshwater carry exactly the same genetic change as the baltic herring whereas nearly all fish living in marine waters have a rhodopsin gene variant with phenylalanine like the atlantic herring
it is remarkable that we find the same mutation occur independently and at least 20 times across thousands of fish species; this provides a really striking example of convergent evolution at the molecular level said erik enbody co-author and post-doctoral fellow at uppsala university
our hypothesis is that this change in rhodopsin is particularly important during the juvenile stage and that the baltic herring variant allows fish larvae to better utilize the light environment in the baltic sea when searching for food or avoiding predators andersson said
their hypothesis is supported by their finding that both atlantic salmon and brown trout that always spawn in freshwater but may live most of their life in marine water have tyrosine 261 in rhodopsin like a freshwater fish
in contrast the european and japanese eel which both are born in marine waters but live most of their adult lives in freshwater carry phenylalanine 261 like the great majority of marine fish
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
asucena ochoas first experiences with cattle were during her houston high schools agriculture classes
now however after participating in texas a&m universitys innovative veterinary education research and outreach (vero) food animal & rural practice summer internship program ochoa is considering pursuing a career working in food animal production or in a rural practice that serves both large and small animals
the vero internship program which is a partnership between texas a&ms college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and west texas a&m university in canyon gives students a chance to explore another side of the veterinary profession
interns focus their studies on working with either beef cattle swine or dairy cattle in the ideal setting with veros close proximity to a significant percentage of the beef industry; approximately 30 percent of the nations feed beef cattle are raised within 200 miles of canyon
perfect opportunity
for the second-year veterinary student this opportunity was exactly what ochoa was seeking
i didnt have as much experience or exposure to livestock as i would have liked she said coming out of high school i didnt have a definitive answer about what i wanted to do with my life
she decided to attend texas a&m as an undergraduate and started taking agriculture classes
it wasnt until my freshman or sophomore year of college that i began to get serious about veterinary medicine and i started doing internships getting more experience and shadowing veterinarians around college station ochoa said i got really passionate that this is what i wanted to do with my life
those experiences led her to earn a bachelors degree in animal sciences with a minor in chemistry and ultimately to veterinary school at the cvm
milking an internship
though she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian ochoa still wanted to explore her options regarding the type of medicine she would practice thats where the vero internship comes in
being from houston i didnt feel like i had as many opportunities to get hands-on experience with veterinarians she said so when dr (dan) posey (a clinical professor and vero academic coordinator) came to the cvm and talked to us about this summer program i really wanted to see if i could come out to the panhandle and experience what its like to be out in a rural practice
she decided to focus her internship on dairy cattle because she knew the least about these animals
two weeks of her internship were spent at a dalhart calf ranch while another four weeks were at dimmit muleshoe veterinary clinics these experiences gave ochoa the opportunity to apply what she learned in the classroom including suturing drawing blood and assisting with surgery
its been really eye-opening and a great opportunity she said
the aggie was especially impressed by the systemic approach and the various factors that are taken into account when a veterinarian takes on each case she also noticed the strong teamwork and communication that was necessary to work in these practices
it would be impossible to do everything yourself when working with large animals she said
moving forward
after this experience ochoa is still weighing her career options
the internship is helping me make a better decision about what i want to do instead of feeling as if i am limited because ive only had small animal experiences she said
ultimately ochoa would recommend the vero summer internship program to other students
it was a great learning opportunity she said many going into veterinary school think they know what they want to do but they should consider other options
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
responding to regional industry needs community planning and student interest in the rio grande valley the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) extended its biomedical sciences (bims) program to the texas a&m higher education center at mcallen last fall
now celebrating its first full year of operations the program is experiencing fantastic growth in student interest faculty hires and coursework
the mcallen bims program enrolled 49 freshmen in the fall 2018 semester aligned with quality standards and a goal of 50 students in its first semester fall 2019 will continue this trajectory with 49 new students enrolled and set to begin classes aug 26
were excited to begin our second cohort of freshmen but equally excited to see the sophomore students take advantage of mentoring the first-year students participating in the first-year experiences and helping them to succeed said dr elizabeth crouch the associate dean of undergraduate education at the cvm
the students at the mcallen campus are proud to be part of the texas a&m family and have already created their own set of unique aggie traditions as ‘palm aggies crouch said referring to the acronym that stands for passionate aggies leading mcallen which was selected by the initial cohort of students to guide their fish camp experience and student activities
the higher education center at mcallen provides texas a&m with the opportunity to extend tier one education choice to one of the fastest growing regions in texas with a culturally and economically diverse population focused on workforce development educational attainment and career success
the four-county area of the lower rio grande valley sits at a ‘crossroads not only as a region dealing with immense growth and change but as one of the most active international land ports of entry in the world crouch said the opportunity to provide our leading bims program expands undergraduate educational outreach improves our overall capacity and creates unique setting for real-world ‘global one health problems to be studied
we are also able to offer interested students the bims degree with a setting that benefits from lower student-faculty ratio lower cost of living and advantages of these real-world educational opportunities that are unique to the mcallen campus crouch said
in addition to the influx of bims students at mcallen new faculty members are also joining the palm aggie community
this past spring dr catherine busch-silkwood joined the mcallen team as the first faculty member for the bims program an instructional assistant professor of pathobiology busch-silkwood taught introduction to biomedical sciences (bims 101) introduction to phenotypic expression in the context of human medicine (bims 201) and genetics in the news (vtpb 212)
busch-silkwood has also taken on the informal role of serving as a faculty adviser in concert with the current higher education center at mcallen advising staff member josette gonzalez
as we grow our program its nice to have catherine begin developing the close faculty-student relations we are known for at texas a&m university crouch said as a ‘startup operation the hec is a close-knit community coupled with josettes passion for academic advising bims students in mcallen are poised for success
dr negin mirhosseini a microbiologist will soon be joining the mcallen-based faculty allowing a total of six cvm-taught courses to be available for students this fall in addition to core curriculum course offerings from the texas a&m college of science college of liberal arts and school of public health
the mcallen bims program also plans to hire an anatomist within the next year and eventually a physiologist as well
these new faculty members and the courses they will offer will combine well with the public health degree offerings underway providing students with a global one health viewpoint of biomedical sciences crouch said
one of the many benefits of the mcallen biomedical sciences program is that it provides students from the rio grande valley with the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree from the cvm without having to leave the region
we have always been blessed to attract a large number of students from the rio grande valley to study at the main campus in college station; however for many students familial commitments distance from home and living expenses associated with moving north for school are barriers to their success crouch said the mcallen bims program puts texas a&m education in the valley offering the students a biomedical sciences degree at home while fostering the relationship between the students in the valley and the opportunities they have with the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences
by creating an opportunity for students to stay close to home for the first four years of their education after high school we believe we can provide a high-quality experience with our classic animal health focus preparing students for furthering their education in pre-professional education opportunities in veterinary medicine and other fields or in launching their career in bioscience research pharmaceutical and public health fields she said
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a memorandum of understanding between texas a&m university and national taiwan university will strengthen collaborations in the areas of disaster research and preparedness and provide both institutions with the opportunity to study disaster response on a global scale
dr ivan rusyn director of the texas a&m superfund research center and university professor at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) created this agreement in partnership with dr chang-chuan chan dean of the college of public health at national taiwan university
the partnership with the largest college of public health in asia is an invaluable opportunity to exchange best practices and knowledge rusyn said
taiwan is a country prone to natural disasters similar to those that impact the coastal areas in the us and is also a high-density population center interspersed with multiple chemical industry facilities he said therefore there are many similar challenges to be addressed by combining the brain trust and the experience of the faculty and trainees at both institutions
we are honored to have this opportunity to cooperate with texas a&m superfund center to enhance our scientific and technological capability to meet the challenges of chemical safety management in taiwan chan said students and faculty of both universities will benefit from cross-cultural cooperation between two prominent educational institutions
the texas a&m superfund center studies the impacts that hazardous chemical contaminations can have on human health in coastal areas after natural or manmade disasters
the college of public health at national taiwan university the only public health school in asia accredited by the council on education for public health seeks to provide its students with a global view of both human and environmental health
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
as a young boy growing up in milano jacob willingham started showing pigs at county fairs he soon was raising his own and widening his agricultural interests to include showing heifers
so its not surprising that willingham now a third-year veterinary student at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) is interested in working with both large and small animals in a rural area when he graduates
however willingham wanted to explore his options before selecting his career path thats why he decided to participate in an intensive tour of the food animal industry and rural veterinary clinics organized by the veterinary education research & outreach (vero) program an innovative partnership between the cvm and west texas a&m university (wtamu) in canyon
id been around food animals but not from a veterinary perspective he said i hadnt seen everything that is done by a veterinarian in a rural area i also wanted to go out to west texas because thats where a lot of our beef and dairy production is i wanted to learn how a veterinarian works in that field
the food animal production & rural practice tour was created by cvm faculty drs virginia fajt floren buddy faries and dan posey in 2008 for students who have completed their second year of veterinary school and are exploring all of the possibilities for careers in veterinary medicine
the tour is hosted on the wtamu campus by posey who is the vero academic coordinator as well as dr dee griffin vero director and dr paul morley vero research director
over the past decade interest has grown helping the program reach a milestone of enrolling 100 students in 2019
when dr fajt and i started this tour in 2008 we were hoping it would be sustainable; we look up 11 years later and are amazed in the impact that this has had in influencing veterinary students careers posey said our industry partners like the texas cattle feeders association the texas a&m veterinary diagnostic laboratory and the rural mixed animal practices of the panhandle get to observe the number of students from texas a&m cvm that are interested in food animal veterinary medicine this milestone is huge
the six-day tour was designed to introduce students to various aspects of the food animal production industry as well as to rural veterinary clinics wtamu is situated near a significant percentage of the beef industry; approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are raised within 200 miles of canyon
it also helps students understand the veterinarians role in agriculture and rural communities by showcasing multiple types of production units and introducing concepts and terminology; students visit prototypical well-run operations that spotlight veterinary career opportunities in rural areas
for example students visited muleshoe animal clinic a large mixed animal rural practice that employs 13 veterinarians the clinic works with the dairy and beef cattle industry in addition to serving the small towns needs
the aspiring aggie veterinarians also experienced panhandles carson county veterinary clinic where one of the veterinarians specializes in companion animals the students perspectives were further expanded at the dimmit veterinary clinic which offers services in acupuncture and equestrian sports medicine
in dalhart students learned from dr scanlon daniels who has a rural mixed practice that includes the swine and dairy industry as part of the tour students went with daniels to tour a farrowing operation and a jersey cow operation
the students learned more about the animal production industry through visiting a holstein feedyard a packing plant wtamus meat science facility and the texas a&m veterinary medical diagnostic lab in amarillo
the tour meets with texas cattle feeders association representatives to learn more about the feeding industry initiatives to audit cattle welfare and legislative issues related to animal agriculture
ultimately the tour is designed to provide insights into potential career paths that students might not otherwise consider
when they go to the dairies and feedlots they see how these animals are actually cared for and the important leadership role that the veterinarian plays posey said its all about taking care of animals
this experience not only opened students eyes but helped them make important contacts
for me the tour was a chance to see more of the medicine i want to practice in west texas and meet new people connected to the field said hannah johnson a third-year student who hails from idalou i would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in food animal medicine or mixed animal practice west texas is a great place to live and work and this is a great opportunity to experience it
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
dr lori teller a clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) has been elected as vice chair of the american veterinary medical association (avma) board of directors
as the administrative body of the avma the board of directors consists of 18 members who are responsible for supervising the association and determining new policies and policy changes
in her role as vice chair teller will serve as a substitute upon the absence of the board chair dr rena carlson she will help the chair and avma leadership team plan the agendas for board meetings and support the board in its efforts to develop policies and projects within its strategic plan and budget
teller will attend several in-person board of directors meetings throughout the next year along with any conference calls the board chair requests
this role also places teller on the avma board of governors which meets between board of directors meetings if urgent matters arise
my goals are to learn from and assist the chair as needed to accomplish her goals and to continue to represent the avma in a positive manner teller said i also intend to work with our members and stakeholders to make sure we are best meeting the needs of the profession
im super excited about being elected she said its a big responsibility and i very much appreciate the trust and faith my colleagues have in me to do this job i hope i can exceed their expectations in the coming year
teller was elected during the 2019 avma convention held from aug 2-6 in washington dc
within the avma teller also represents district viii consisting of arkansas louisiana and texas on the board of directors and serves as chair of the avmas state advocacy committee previously she also served in the house of delegates and on several committees and task forces
teller joined the cvm in 2018 as the first full-time telehealth veterinarian in academia she is a past-president of both the harris county and texas veterinary medical associations (tvma) and a trustee for the tvma veterinary political action committee
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
a team led by texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) researcher stephen safe has discovered a new pathway that may help suppress the development of glioblastoma tumors
the texas a&m teams research on the ah receptor which controls expression of a diverse set of genes essentially contradicts what was previously understood in glioblastoma research the texas a&m study was published in july in the journal of biological chemistry
we found the ah receptorwhich was previously reported in the literature to be a pro-invasion geneactually blocked invasion of glioblastoma cells said safe who is a distinguished professor of veterinary physiology & pharmacology (vtpp) in the cvm when we add certain ah receptor ligands (molecules that bonds to another molecule) we observed a potent inhibition of glioblastoma cell invasion basically weve shown that its a good gene that can be targeted by drugs to make it even more effective
glioblastomas the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults are comprised of tumor cells that rapidly reproduce and divide which allow the tumor to grow into nearby normal brain tissue currently these brain tumors are incurable; a patients median life expectancy after diagnosis is 11-15 months with standard glioblastoma treatments
according to the american brain tumor association glioblastomas also form new blood vessels so they can maintain their rapid growth and may use connection fibers to spread to the opposite side of the brain
glioblastomas are difficult to treat because these tumors often have finger-like tentacles that spread through the brain they may not be completely removed through surgery the tumors individual cells also respond differently to various therapies
the texas a&m study used patient glioblastoma cells in collaboration with colleagues at the detroit medical center as well as cells that were used in previously published glioblastoma studies the researchers analyzed the ah receptor and several receptor ligands including kynurenine
previous published studies in the journal nature found that the ah receptor and kynurenine were involved in glioblastoma cells invasion of the brain
however the texas a&m researchers refuted these findings by showing that ah receptors actually serve a protective function and do not promote the invasion of glioblastoma cells in addition when researchers added ah receptor ligands but kynurenine was not active the level of protection to the brain was enhanced
these findings suggest that the ah receptor could be a target for the development of drugs to inhibit glioblastoma the texas a&m team is now studying the use of the ah receptor as a target for inhibiting glioblastoma and identifying compounds that bind to the ah receptor to provide additional protection to the brain
this study opens up a new way for developing potential clinical applications safe said whether this line of inquiry will be successful remains to be seen but our work may offer hope for a disease which has such a poor prognosis
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
ranger has seen a lot of change in his short life
the 2-year-old male german shepherd was a hand-me-down dog passed among texas a&m university students who cycled through a rental property when the final aggie could not take ranger with him after graduation the all-call went out in april to find ranger a forever home
fortunately susan keough who had recently lost an elderly dog was looking for a new pet the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) program manager for marketing and outreach heard about ranger and decided to bring him into her family
unusually inactive
keough was initially surprised to find ranger to be unusually docile and inactive for such a young german shepherd a few months later rangers health went into a downward spiral when the familys young daughters left for camp
the day that i took them he went into a depression he wouldnt eat wouldnt get off the couch he was completely depressed that the girls were gone keough said by the end of that week he started vomiting
keough took ranger to their veterinarian who diagnosed a gastrointestinal parasite and prescribed antibiotics however rangers condition kept declining even after the girls returned home
by the time the family took the german shepherd back to the veterinarian ranger was lethargic vomiting could not stand and had an extremely slow heartbeat
the veterinarian did bloodwork and came in with a syringe of steroids and said ‘your dog is having a crisis we need to stabilize him he is dying keough recounted
a stress-laden decline
the doctor gave ranger an injection of steroids and told the family that ranger was in the middle of an addisonian crisis resulting from untreated addisons disease a condition in which the adrenal gland cannot make cortisol in response to stress
the stressor was the girls leaving for camp for the week keough said he thought his family was abandoning him again because he had been through all of this stress of people coming and going when living with these college boys
the family rushed ranger to the vmths emergency services where he spent three days in the intensive care unit receiving medications and fluids they also found out that the dogs adrenal gland were not functioning appropriately
he will be on meds and monthly shots for the rest of his life to counter the adrenal gland that is no longer producing cortisol keough said
the impact of extreme stress
addisons disease is a relatively uncommon condition in dogs
addisons disease typically affects young to middle-aged female dogs; however we can see it in any breed sex or age said dr abigail romano a rotating veterinary intern who saw ranger on the internal medicine service
this disease can stump veterinarians and dog owners because the initial signs–lethargy or intermittent gastrointestinal signsmimic those of other conditions however if addisons disease progresses and is not treated the dog can suddenly be in a health crisis due to low circulating blood volume called hypovolemic shock
addisonian dogs cannot produce adequate cortisol so a lack of stress response on bloodwork raises suspicion of this disease romano said adding that dogs having an addisonian crisis can have a low heart rate and significant changes in their blood composition
regaining his vigor
once ranger was firmly on the road to recovery romano came up with a plan of action to help him remain healthy
the first step involves daily steroid supplementation with dosages changing in anticipation of events that may cause additional stress for ranger such as veterinary visits thunderstorms family parties or his family leaving for an extended period of time additionally dogs like ranger who have electrolyte imbalances require monthly supplementation injected under the skin
for the foreseeable future ranger will continue to have follow-up appointments with romano
my role during these follow-up appointments is making sure we are managing rangers disease appropriately the veterinarian said mrs keough informs me of how ranger is doing at home including his energy level appetite and any reoccurrence of gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea careful monitoring is essential to make sure we are supplementing him with appropriate doses of his medications
these check-ups also include analyzing rangers blood chemistry to ensure that electrolyte levels are within the normal range
maintaining a careful watch
for the near future keough will have to keep a close eye on ranger since he will remain at risk of having another addisonian crisis
keeping his condition in check requires maintaining a fine balance signs of lethargy weakness vomiting and diarrhea help the veterinarians know if they are providing the proper dosage of supplements in addition increased panting appetite drinking and urination may suggest that ranger is receiving too strong a dosage of steroids
eventually ranger will need fewer checkups and keough will learn to give rangers injections the good news is that with proper management ranger has an excellent prognosis and is expected to live a normal life
rangers illness also gave keough firsthand experience of what it is like to be a client at her workplaceand the compassionate care that each animal receives
i understand where our doctors our residents and our fourth-year students are coming from and now being on the other side of the fence i can see where the client comes from keough said one of my worries was that when ranger was in the icu and hooked up to the iv all day for three days that he wasnt being loved on but no they were back there loving on him and making sure that he was taken care of that made me feel better
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
growing up in jamaica orville tucker was surrounded by neighbors whose farms included goats cows chickens dogs and cats a boyhood spent in close proximity to a wide variety of animals inspired tuckers decision to become a veterinarian
i always wanted to help animals since i was 12 years old he said i figured that if i was going to do anything for the rest of my life and call it work it would need to involve animals because i wouldnt enjoy anything else
now a second-year veterinary student in texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) tucker is learning the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue his dream career
to apply the lessons hes learned in the classroom tucker decided to dedicate this summer participating in the cvms innovative veterinary education research and outreach (vero) food animal & rural practice summer internship program
through the internship program vero a partnership between cvm and west texas a&m university in canyon gives students a chance to explore another side of the veterinary profession allowing interns to focus on working with either beef cattle swine or dairy cattle
the panhandle setting is ideal because of veros close proximity to a significant percentage of the beef industry; approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are raised within 200 miles of canyon
putting knowledge into practice
tucker already had studied beef cattle during his undergraduate classes at texas a&m university-commerce but wanted to learn more that led to him to a presentation by dr dan posey clinical professor and academic coordinator for the vero program
dr posey described the summer internship program as being an experience that would change the path of your veterinary career tucker said i knew i didnt have that much background with large animals farm life and country life i wanted to see if this was something i wanted to do
the internship which involved working full-time during the week and from 8 am to noon on saturdays gave him exactly what he was seeking
tucker spent a month at a dalhart feedlot where he worked with the feedlot doctoring crew pen riders to assess cattle health feedmill staff the yard/maintenance crew and drivers who deliver feed
the next four weeks of his summer were spent in a mixed animal practice in plainview this gave tucker the opportunity to work with a mixed animal veterinarian and learn to interact with clients assist with physical exams and assist in surgeries
tucker found that his summer experience offered additional depth in working with large animals
this internship has challenged me to become more competent in talking to clients about dentals or vaccines he said its also given me practice in technical skills such as scrubbing in for surgery and placing catheters and critical thinking about what we want to do for our patients
broadening horizons
the vero summer internship program also aligned with tuckers desire to fully explore his professional options
when i started veterinary school i wanted to keep my mind open to everything he said adding that his cvm coursework focuses on both large and small animals i think im going to stay with mixed animal medicine because ive gotten to learn more about these other species beyond just the cats and dogs that i grew up with i really think id enjoy working with difference species of animals
hes also experienced what its like to live in the texas panhandle
its a lot more spacious than i thought he said
tucker and his fellow aggies have used their free time to explore the panhandle including west texas a&ms panhandle-plains historical museum and the texas outdoor musical at palo duro canyon
finding a sense of home
tucker who is now a us citizen plans to share his knowledge with his extended family and neighbors in his home country
farm animals are important in jamaica he said having knowledge about how to work with farm animals will be important when i go back to visit family and friends
he also has been impressed with the area and could see why veterinarians would be drawn to the region
its nice; you definitely can make a life up here tucker said adding that he wants to continue to explore texas before deciding where to put down roots i want to see more places and see where my experiences take me at the end of it all where the opportunity presents itself ill go
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
growing up in houston asucena ochoa 17 had few opportunities outside of her high school agriculture classes to be around livestock
now thanks to the innovative veterinary education research and outreach (vero) program a partnership between texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and west texas a&m university (wtamu) ochoa and seven other texas a&m students spent the summer gaining that experience by participating in a veterinary internship in the texas panhandle
the vero food animal & rural practice summer internship program housed at wtamu in canyon gives students a chance to explore another side of the veterinary profession through working with beef cattle swine and dairy cattle the latter of which has been the focus of ochoas summer studies
the setting is ideal because of the veros close proximity to a significant percentage of the beef industry; approximately 30 percent of the nations beef cattle are raised within 200 miles of canyon
the veterinary summer internship program in west texas now in its third year deepens students knowledge base by placing them with ranches and feedlots to work with food animals and the attending veterinarians
interns gain a wide variety of experiences including delivering feed doing animal welfare checks and working with the doctoring crew
students find out whether this career path is something they want to do said dr dan posey clinical professor and academic coordinator for the vero program even if they rule out practicing as a beef cattle veterinarian they have extensive knowledge of how the feedyard works
aspiring veterinarians also spend part of the summer at rural veterinary clinics in small communities such as dimmit muleshoe and claude
these are excellent rural veterinarians posey said i would stack them up against any practitioner in texas or around the world because of the quality of medicine that they do this experience probably defines what students do in their career because this is where we see the light bulbs really turn on
the internship also offers several other meaningful experiences
for instance students assist posey in providing clinical services to horses at feedyards and panhandle prison units and in an important addition to the 2019 internship program interns are learning about the secure beef supply plan this plan is used to secure livestock in case of an outbreak of highly infectious and dangerous diseases such as foot and mouth disease
ultimately these internships give students a wealth of unique experiences and the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom
after a year of veterinary school and learning and practicing all these new things we have all these new knowledge and skills said orville tucker who is focusing his internship on beef cattle this internship has challenged me to become more competent in talking to clients about dentals or vaccines its also given me practice in technical skills such as scrubbing in for surgery and placing catheters and critical thinking about what we want to do for our patients
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
inspired by her late daughter-in-laws lifetime of generosity linda holsey has endowed the michelle lynn holsey scholarship in biomedical sciences to provide financial assistance to a student who plans to pursue a medical degree
when michelle lynn holsey was diagnosed with stage iii breast cancer in 2003 she told her family that she wouldnt let the disease stop her from helping others
her family recalls their days traveling from crockett to houstons md anderson and how michelle would always stop to talk to people in the waiting room she had an especially soft heart for the parents of small children who were also going through their own cancer battles or those who had to miss weeks of work to receive care
michelle always went out of her way to strike up conversations and form lasting relationships with the people she met theyd begin their treatments as strangers but michelle easily earned their friendship
after numerous surgeries chemotherapy and radiation treatmentsincluding traveling to germany for an innovative treatmenther cancer persisted and sadly in 2006 michelle passed away
throughout the entire process michelle maintained an attitude of confidence and fought a valiant battle the same way she lived her life with faith hope and dignity said linda holsey michelles mother-in-law
inspired by michelles lifetime of generosity her family was determined to continue her legacy and ensure that her giving spirit lives on establishing the michelle lynn holsey foundation shortly after her passing to assist those battling cancer and other debilitating diseases while funding innovative treatments and supporting education
the foundation has monthly grant meetings at which time qualifying grant applicants are awarded funds to meet their needs and yearly scholarships are given to graduating seniors in both houston and brazos counties linda said the foundation continues to grow and help those in need with the help of various yearly fundraisers and the generosity of the community and friends across the nation
our largest fundraiser is the annual five-day national cutting horse association-sanctioned event held the first week of october currently at the brazos county expo center with a steak dinner live and silent auctions and a concert on saturday night of the cutting week she said
because of michelles experience with some very hardworking doctors linda decided to honor michelle in her own way by establishing an endowed scholarship in the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) biomedical sciences (bims) undergraduate program to help a future medical student
giving to texas a&m is also special to the family because two of michelles daughtershannah lynn holsey craycraft and holly ann holsey as well as son-in-law clint craycraftare aggie graduates
michelle gave unconditional love and loyalty to everyone she met she was a source of wisdom an exemplary role model a loving mother and wife and a tireless volunteer to many causes she unknowingly blessed everyone she came in contact with simply by being herself linda said i wanted to create this scholarship to help soon-to-be medical students pay for their education and get off on the right track
the bims program in the cvm is one of the largest degree-granting majors at texas a&m and students in the program explore many aspects of applied biology related to health and disease students in the program frequently go on to careers or post-secondary education in fields like medicine veterinary medicine or dentistry
the michelle lynn holsey scholarship in biomedical sciences is one of 12 endowed scholarships in the program
the biomedical sciences program is very thankful to the family of michelle lynn holsey for this scholarship her story is inspirational and many of our students decide to pursue medicine because of patients such as michelle said dr elizabeth crouch cvm associate dean for undergraduate education the award to be made in her name will assist an undergraduate who has many years of education for which to pay and when they hear her story i know they will be further motivated to work hard and succeed both academically and professionally
because the scholarship is endowed it will provide annual awards to aspiring medical students in perpetuity the scholarship will be awarded to its first recipient in the fall of 2019
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
next summer students participating in the histotechnology program at the university of texas md anderson cancer centers school of health professions will have the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) gaining hands-on experience and learning from experts in the cvms histology service laboratory
as part of a five-year agreement one student will have the option to travel to college station for an internship during their final semester of the histotechnology program md anderson previously has partnered with other organizations that allow their students to have diverse experiences in real-world laboratory settings
were thrilled to partner with md andersons histotechnology program and provide an opportunity for students to intern at our veterinary histology service lab said dr dana kneese a clinical assistant professor in the cvms department of veterinary integrative biosciences (vibs) histotechnology spans human and veterinary medicine so were coming together to provide a ‘one health approach to the field
one of the missions of the cvms histology service lab is to create a teaching environment and this partnership would offer a great experience for not only the students at md anderson but also for us at texas a&m in fulfilling that mission according to kneese
histologic technologists are highly sought-after in both veterinary and human medicine she said they are an integral part of the medical field because they are highly skilled in preparing tissue samples and histology slides for research and diagnostic purposes we are excited to be affiliated with the histotechnology program and help train the next generation of histotechnologists
histotechnology centers on the detection of tissue abnormalities and the treatment for the diseases causing the abnormalities according to the national society of histotechnology
at the cvm md andersons histotechnology students in their clinical phase will be able to practice the skills theyve begun acquiring in md andersons one- or two-year tracks including the processing and staining of histology slides that can be examined by a pathologist or researcher
the cvms histology service lab offers students a unique experience in that they will be working under the guidance of a certified histotechnician to process diagnostic samples that come through the veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth) along with research samples from many other departments and colleges
in the histology service lab md anderson students will gain clinical instruction in histotechnology to help prepare them to enter the workforce as highly skilled histotechs kneese said student interns will learn how to handle many different types of tissue ranging from horns and hooves to small delicate tissues from animals of all sizes for both diagnostic and research purposes
histotechnology is a field that requires a lot of skill as creating slides for diagnostics and research is an intricate process according to kneese
histotechs are experts at determining how to prepare all types of tissues so that pathologists and researchers can microscopically evaluate high quality tissue sections to make a diagnosis or collect research data she said what they do is really importantveterinarians human doctors and researchers all utilize a histology service lab
if a veterinarian removes a mass and sends it off for a pathologist to determine if its cancer and what kind of cancer it is theyre utilizing a histology lab she said
the partnership came about when associate professor mark bailey histotechnology program director and dr toysha mayer associate program director contacted kneese to establish an education agreement affiliation
we are honored to have established this affiliation with the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences bailey said the university of texas md anderson cancer center school of health professions and program in histotechnology consider the texas a&m departments of veterinary integrative biosciences and veterinary pathobiology to be a stellar facility staffed with the topmost veterinary medicine faculty and professionals who will be able to provide our students with a comprehensive histotechnology experience as related to veterinary pathology
histotechnologists are in high demand throughout the greater texas area and the united states and our students career options include working in clinical diagnostic labs research labs forensic labs and veterinary pathology labs he said we were delighted when dr dana kneese responded to our request to establish an affiliation with her department the distinctive collaboration between our prestigious institutions of higher education will enrich our students histotechnology competencies
kneese was also asked to serve on the md anderson histotechnology program advisory committee for which she joins other representatives from affiliated institutions to discuss the program and provide recommendations to ensure students success in the program and thereafter
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
wearing her doggles sunglasses sadie projects a jet pilots intensity as she plays outdoors at her brenham home
more importantly the eyewear is a critical part of a treatment plan prescribed by texas a&m universitys veterinary medical teaching hospital to protect the german shepherds eyesight from further damage caused by pannus
this chronic inflammatory condition which often attacks the cornea is caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks the bodys own tissues
german shepherds are one of the rare breeds that have a higher chance of developing this progressive condition which can lead to blindness in addition dogs living in areas with a high uv indexsuch as texasor at higher altitudes are at increased risk
filmy eyes
beatriz vidal sadies owner noticed a film beginning to grow over the dogs eyes in 2017 a brenham veterinarian prescribed steroids and sadies health improved however after the dog developed an eye infection and regressed vidal decided to bring her to texas a&ms renowned veterinary hospital
we got her in there just in time vidal said if we had waited any longer it could have been a different story
the hospital staff diagnosed sadies condition and started intensive treatment that included eye drops and topical anti-inflammatory medications sadies eyes began to clear up within 10 days
we are often able to clear the cornea of blood vessels with treatment; however the pigmentary changes that occur with chronic disease are often permanent said dr erin scott assistant professor in ophthalmology it is important that owners are aware this condition is controllable but not curableso life-long therapy is indicated to control inflammation and modulate the bodys immune response
the staff also recommended that vidal purchase a pair of doggles for sadie that will protect her eyes while outdoors for an extended period of time since the eyewear helps to limit uv light
not all dogs tolerate wearing them and not all owners are interested in getting doggles for their dogs so it is not required just recommended scott said the doggles shouldnt cause discomfort; there are many different sizes to fit all breeds of dogs
bundle of joy
dogs always have been an integral part of vidals life
her parents owned two small dogs while she was a child and vidal made sure that her own children grew up with the loving presence of a beagle yet the brenham resident had always dreamed of owning a big dog one day
that day came as a surprise when her boyfriend presented vidal with a backpack that contained a small furry german shepherd puppy that looked like a little bear
in the four years since sadie has since grown into a 76-pound dog who thinks she is a lap dog
shes my baby girl vidal said she brings a lot of joy and happiness to everyone
the comparative ophthalmology service staff has enjoyed working with sadie and ms vidal
sadie has been an excellent patient for us allowing us to examine her eyes closely with our specialized instruments scott said ms vidal has also done a wonderful job caring for sadie; our success relies a great deal on our clients dedication to treating their pets eyes at home!
the admiration is mutual
the hospital staff have been amazing very patient and very thorough vidal said they explained everything to us and we were able to ask any questions that we wanted they were very loving toward sadie
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for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of cvm communications texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&ms equine therapy program is changing the lives of veterans and people with disabilities
story by jeannie ralston spirit magazine texas a&m foundation
the courtney cares program makes all the difference for 9-year-old wyatt branum (pictured to the right) who was born with down syndrome in four years of riding hes made tremendous progress mentally and physically while never reluctant to ride he can now mount and dismount his horse straw flying down who happens to be a gift from lyle lovett 79 to the parsons mounted cavalry with little assistance he trots on the horse centers himself when off balance in the saddle and listens with 100 percent attention to his instructors
the courtney of courtney cares
courtney grimshaw 85 loved horses
growing up outside of colorado springs she got her first horse in high school when she was attending texas a&m she had an experience that sparked a dream for her: she helped a friends son who had a debilitating disease learn to ride
the childs mother said it was the first time he did anything other kids could do said dee grimshaw courtneys mother it was so rewarding for her
seeing the change in the boy planted courtneys dream of someday having a horse camp for kids
she thought a horse could cure everything dee continued really that was the bottom line
but the idea of a camp was sidelined as courtney who was an animal science major at texas a&m and earned an mba in accounting from the university of texas built an impressive career in international financemuch of it spent in kazakhstan as the tax partner for the global region of pricewaterhousecoopers
when she wasnt negotiating business opportunities for the developing country courtney rode dressage horses which she bought from a breeder in poland in 2010 after 12 years in kazakhstan she was preparing to return to texas to live
she built a home on acreage near the small town of thorndalebetween austin and college stationand started erecting a state-of-the-art horse barn which would have been ideal for that childrens horseback riding camp shed planned
but then just months before leaving kazakhstan courtney passed away unexpectedly at age 46 leaving her family and friends devastated
we felt a huge hole in our lives dee said we had to do something for her something to help people thats what she would do
collectively the grimshaw family sold her property in thorndale and used the funds to establish an equine therapy program at texas a&m
we connected the dots and decided this would be an ideal way to honor her said jim grimshaw courtneys younger brother this is our way of perpetuating her spirit and making something good come out of our terrible loss
because courtney was such a fervent aggie the family reached out to the texas a&m university system
from the word ‘go all the pieces came together in a way that continues to surprise and delight us especially since the program supports the values of texas a&mresearch education and service jim said it seems like courtney was guiding the process serendipity is the word that comes to mind when we talk about it things just seemed meant to be
the program
launched in 2012 with $12 million from the sale of courtneys property courtney cares was designed to do more than help local children adults and veterans in need of services it was designed as a living breathing educational laboratory and classroom where students interested in volunteering could learn about the benefits and needs of the equine assisted activities and therapy industry
courtney cares is operated through a strategic partnership with the corps of cadets parsons mounted cavalry and dr nancy kreneks therapy center ride on center for kids (rock) which provides professional instructors licensed therapists and more than 20 years of experience
when krenek was approached by the system in 2012 to head up this project she knew that texas a&m could be the catalyst for promoting excellence in this industry because of its high standards of service education and research
today the program helps children adults and veterans experience the life-changing therapy of horses
currently 15 to 20 of the cavalrys 66 horses are part of the program and each horse is vetted by the standards of the professional association of therapeutic horsemanship
our horses work well because theyre trained to trust their riders and ground handlers to keep them safe said bob byrns 74 the cavalry site manager once horses have accepted the leadership relationship they will do almost anything to please their leader
courtney cares supports the cavalrys budget by helping to pay for horse maintenance renting freeman arena and buying equipment such as saddles helmets and horse trailers texas a&m studentsoften from the health sciences education and animal science fieldsserve as volunteer side walkers and horse handlers during courtney cares sessions
two types of sessions are offered at no charge for a couple hundred participants the first is for children and adults with challenges that are either physical or emotional the second is for veterans who are seeking to learn leadership through horsemanship as they adjust to their post-military life often with physical injury or ptsd from their service
the movement of the horse provides a deep-pressure stimulus with each step explained krenek the rider can receive 160 to 200 biofeedback impulses per minute in the neuromuscular system the brain the nerves and the muscles these impulses provide a calming effect on the nervous system that helps participants respond in a more proactive way to life the cause-and-effect relationship with the horse also allows self-discovery and opportunities for leadership that aid in teaching horsemanship appropriate behavior and social skills
equine assisted activities and therapy is a growing field because of many studies that have demonstrated the ways horses help people improve physically and emotionally there are multifaceted opportunities for improvement said dr jim heird executive director of the equine initiative at texas a&m a joint program between the college of agriculture and life sciences and the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) we know that the movement of the horse closely duplicates the movement of human walking people can improve their core muscles and walking by riding a horse
as for emotional benefits dr priscilla lightsey 80 a physical therapist with courtney cares who is also a hippotherapy clinical specialist explained one reason horses have such an impact
participants have to communicate with the horse she said they have ownership and control of something 1 200 pounds thats powerful
horses are always looking for a leader added heird
this he noted helps children and those with disabilities gain confidence as they guide the animals for veterans taking care of a horse can make them feel whole
veterans do the same tasks the cadets do for the horses but at a slower pace byrns said they have to modify their behavior to work with horses; they have to be calm and gentle it really helps them handle their personal relationships with their kids and spouses better
a research study that included the courtney cares program documented a 74 percent decrease in ptsd symptoms and an 868 percent improvement in veterans overall mental health
the fact that courtney cares would benefit military veterans made the grimshaw family even more comfortable with the goals of the program
courtneys father the late james a bo grimshaw phd was a retired texas a&m regents professor for life and texas a&m commerce professor emeritus as well as a retired air force lieutenant colonel it is powerful to see the list of outcomes for participants in the program and that means a great deal to our family bo said before he passed away in april 2018 courtney continues to have a positive effect on so many people that is the legacy our family wants to perpetuate
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note: this story originally appeared in the 2019 spring edition of cvm today this is a condensed version of the magic of horses the original version was published in the texas a&m foundations spirit magazine you can read the full story at https://wwwtxamfoundationcom/summer-2018/cover-featureaspx
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications media & public relations texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
the conference room in the cvms vidi building that was designated in honor of cathy and patrick breen carries forward a family tradition of philanthropy and the hope that those who utilize the room will one day also follow their lead
story by megan myers
dr patrick doc breen and his wife cathy have devoted their lives to giving back to their communities
now retired after having worked as a renowned veterinarian for 27 years dr breen helps raise money for area nonprofit organizations through auction events and both husband and wife have given their money and time in various ways including to scholarships for texas a&m university students
in october the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) dedicated a room in the veterinary & biomedical education complex (vbec) to the breens as part of a naming opportunity
adorning a wall in the cathy and patrick breen dvm 79 conference room located in vidi building room 120 is a plaque that expresses their philosophy on why they give dr and mrs breen grew up near freeport texas they attended elementary middle and high school together and began dating during their time at brazosport high
we were high school sweethearts and then we married while we were in college mrs breen said
after high school mrs breen went to sam houston state to earn a music degree while dr breen attended texas a&m for both his bachelors and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees
we lived halfway between the two universities in iola so in the mornings i would go my 25 miles to huntsville and hed go his 25 miles to college station mrs breen said i didnt really like to be there by myself so when he had class or duty i enjoyed the opportunity to be able to study in the green room (at the cvm)
after completing his dvm degree dr breen opened the animal hospital of georgetown where he saw small animals for both routine and surgical services
he was the veterinarian for the austin police department drug and bomb dogs and the university of texas bomb and drug dogs mrs breen bragged for her husband a humble man who saw his job as coming to work early working hard all day and going home late
he even traveled to alaska to provide veterinary services for the dogs competing in the iditarod trail sled dog race
during this time mrs breen started a teaching career and sang for churches and weddings
i taught private school in different capacities for 10 years and public school music for 11 years mrs breen said i ‘temporarily left teaching to help with computer technology at the clinic and ended up staying at the practice until my retirement
now mostly retired the couple still manages to keep busy
after exploring different retirement paths that would allow him to give back dr breen went to auctioneer school to become a benefit auction specialist he uses his benefit auction specialty at galas and fundraising that help non profits and other organizations to raise money for causes that are near and dear to their purposes
people can follow more than one dream and still be very successful mrs breen said of her husbands work experience
paying it forward
one of the philosophies that has dictated the breens generosity is to repay those who have given to them
mrs breens father bill mayse graduated from the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine in 1950 and dr mayse saved for his childrens college education
dr breen on the other hand worked his way through school receiving scholarships to attend college thankful for his scholarship assistance they decided they were going to give back to other students
after graduation dr breen met with the class of 34 which had awarded him their first opportunity awards scholarship
i promised them that i would continue that scholarship work by being not only an advocate but a donor dr breen said
among their giving the breens have supported the parsons mounted cavalry texas a&ms horse combat unit as well as a study room for students at the cvm
at one of the meetings of the development council dean (eleanor) green talked about the initiative to get what is now veni vidi and vici built dr breen said there was also a need for funds for renovating the small animal hospital and so at that meeting we decided that we would give a gift
this is a result of wanting to make sure that veni vidi and vici give veterinary students the very best opportunity to excel by providing them with a great world-class learning environment he said
dr breen currently serves on a committee that raises money for scholarships for the houston livestock show and rodeo
every entity that helped him in his dreams we have rallied around their causes and given back to them mrs breen said because he is probably not going to brag on himself he also started an a&m scholarship through our williamson county a&m club
this scholarship founded in 1992 was created with the hopes of raising $500 through an annual fish fry for texas a&m students from williamson county
we carried our little fish fryer up to the park we ran an ad in the paper that we were raising $500 and we just prayed that somebody would show up and eat fish and eat beans and coleslaw and cupcakes mrs breen said
that first event raised its $500 and since then has been increasing in both funds and fish this past year raising $40 000
not only did he give back to every entity that helped him but we also together pledged to create our own entity to help the university so were very proud of that part of our lives mrs breen said
the breen offspring
family has always been incredibly important to the breens
dr breen was very close with his father-in-law dr mayse who worked as a veterinarian most of his life before passing away in 2014
we had great role models our dads were both hard workers my dad was the only veterinarian in freeport for 50 years and pats dad worked for the prison system and our dads had incredible work ethics she continued both were very proud of our scholarships that we helped raise later in life because they both knew how important it was for patrick to have those scholarships
dr and mrs breen have three daughters laura leighann and elizabeth all of whom inherited their parents charitable nature
laura an a&m communications graduate works with her husband at their concrete placement company and has two daughters leighann who works with her husband at memorial hermann childrens hospital recently adopted a son from bulgaria elizabeth who has a bachelors and masters degree from a&m lives in college station elizabeth is working for texas concrete placement while pursuing her career she hopes to return to the university in some capacity
we all get together real often mrs breen said were a very close family
their middle daughter leighann who is a board-certified child life specialist endured many spinal cord surgeries as a child that required a lot of therapy afterward
as part of her recovery leighann used hippotherapy at rock the ride on center for kids in georgetown texas hippotherapy or equine-assisted therapy is often used by children and adults for physical occupational and speech therapy the riders are able to learn balance and coordination skills as well as form emotional connections with their instructors and horses
later dr breen helped connect rock to texas a&m university allowing for the creation of the cvms courtney cares program which is used to teach therapeutic horsemanship to aggies; it receives staff and knowledge from rock as well as horses and horseback training from parsons mounted cavalry
dr breen is an in the dirt volunteer horse handler and side walker at rock as well as vice president on the board of directors
you dont always give back because of money but you give back because of situations mrs breen said of their support of courtney cares rock and parsons mounted cavalry when people are there for you on any levelours happens to be on a huge levelyou strive in some way monetarily or physically to give back they helped our daughter be successful and follow her dreams
texas a&m has recently started its first equine-assisted therapy course and dr breen is often a featured guest speaker in the class
the couple now lives at tres palomas their ranch near georgetown where they raise angus cross beef cattle they have been married for 40 years
i realized that weve done a lot to help others too; its actually a great feeling mrs breen said its very important that they should feel that inner satisfaction that they gave no matter the amount
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note: this story originally appeared in the 2019 spring edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications media & public relations texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
by incorporating technology into his clinical research and teaching efforts dr cristobal navas works to expand both future and current veterinarians understanding of issues related to equine internal medicine and education
story by dr megan palsa
dr cristobal navas is a clinical assistant professor in equine internal medicine and ultrasound at the texas a&m university large animal hospital (lah) in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) veterinary medical teaching hospital (vmth)
texas bound
navas attended veterinary school in valencia spain and worked in private practice for approximately three years before he came to the united states where he completed an internship at virginia tech an internal medicine residency at the university of illinois and a fellowship in cardiology and ultrasound at the university of pennsylvania
after spending three years lecturing at the university of pennsylvania and washington state university he moved to switzerland while working at the university of bern he saw a posting for a position at texas a&m in internal medicine with a focus on ultrasonography
lucky for texas a&m three years ago he accepted the position and transferred from switzerland to texas for what we like to say is his final stop
navas wife joined him on his journey back to the states they now have two daughters 2-year-old isabel and newborn clara
navas at work
navas has a clinical appointment which means that the bulk of his work is in the clinic where he mainly sees horses with internal medicine problems including those in the lungs gastrointestinal tract heart and neurological disorders he also performs ultrasounds on horses and food animals
even though that sounds like a lot of work thats not navas only jobthe other two parts are teaching and research
i teach in areas that are related to my areas of expertiselarge animal internal medicine but more specifically equine cardiology and ultrasound navas said because of time commitments all of my research is clinically oriented meaning i try to solve the problems that we come across in the clinic on a day-to-day basis
while navas has several ongoing research projects on various topics because his main interest is cardiology and ultrasound most are associated with those areas
for example with one of a&ms residents kari bevevino he is working on a project looking at the wall of the intestinal tract using very high frequency probes to see the different layers of the tract and to determine how that can help doctors be more precise when diagnosing gastrointestinal illnesses (gi)
with student michael manriquez navas is trying different devices to record horses heart rhythms to better understand one of the serious problems within the equine industryequine sudden death during exercise
we need better and more user-friendly devices to perform large-scale studies that can solve this problem which affects not only horses health but also riders safety and the public perception of welfare during equestrian sports navas said
lately navas also has been working on other research projects some of which are not necessarily traditional topics for an internist that focus on scholarship teaching and learning and telehealth
research and teaching
in one of those navas and other cvm faculty members have been working to collect empirical evidence for teaching techniques being incorporated into the doctor of veterinary medicine (dvm) program
traditionally as educators we have said ‘we are experts in our fields; therefore we should be able to teach people navas said this teaching based on common sense seems to give good results but is not based on evidence were examining if we can make better decisions by finding this evidence
the teaching teamled by dr kristen chaney a clinical assistant professor in the cvm and navasdesigned a study to prove their hypothesis that interactive digital materials are more effective than traditional textbook learning they found that students indeed seem to get better ultrasound images after doing interactive activities versus reading textbooks
the experimental part of that study was completed early in 2018 the data was analyzed by the team which in addition to chaney and navas included drs lindsey gilmore a radiologist and ashley watts an equine surgeon
with the data in hand they have now designed a similar project that will compare similar interactive materials to a traditional classroom lecture
finally navas and his team have two projects using telemedicine they are working with three texas practices in austin lamesa and waller for the project they connected each practices ultrasound machines to the internet
we can see the screen of their ultrasound machine the horse and their hand using the webcam in their computer and google glasses he said its not the same as being in the same room with the horse and the owner which i believe is the best scenario but this real-time collaboration can get close
we are learning that first the technology is feasibleit doesnt matter if the horse is in houston in austin or in lamesa; as long as they have a good internet connection we can collaborate remotely he said second it can help on-site veterinarians manage cases sometimes the information can help the animal; in others it just makes the owners happy to know that there is a second set of eyes looking at their horse and third veterinarians tell us that they often learn new or different techniques
navas emphasized that while all of the veterinarians they work with are extremely good at their jobs through telemedicine they have access to expertise of clinicians that have dedicated their careers to specific fields
one of the privileges of my job at a&m and the strength of the vmth is that if i am dealing with a complex case i can walk down the hallway and discuss it with world experts in many different fields he said telemedicine can make this accessible to veterinarians worldwide this may be part of the solution to the problem of limited access to veterinary or specialty care in remote areas of the state or the world
navas loves teaching internal medicine courses to all levels of veterinary students and especially courses that are associated with cardiology and ultrasound he said that one thing that is good for a teaching hospital like the vmth is that many of the courses that we teach we teach between different specialists
in other words we are a collaborative group of people from different areas and departments who are working together and lecturing with one another navas said whether its internal medicine cardiology neurology radiology etc were working as one to teach and learn together
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note: this story originally appeared in the 2019 spring edition of cvm today
for more information about the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences please visit our website at vetmedtamuedu or join us on facebook instagram and twitter
contact information: jennifer gauntt interim director of communications media & public relations texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical science; jgauntt@cvmtamuedu; 979-862-4216
texas a&m university the university of texas medical branch at galveston (utmb) and the university of texas rio grande valley recently collaborated on a three-week summer disease outbreak simulation course to provide students with a one health view of vector-borne diseases