THE

The Newsletter of the New College of Veterinary Medicine/Western University of Health Sciences

tea on April 28, 2004, in a program our three (non-PBL) courses. A new WORD FROM THE DEAN sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health task force, chaired by Associate and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Students Professor Gini Barrett (Biomedical received awards for academic Ethics & Public Policy) has been excellence, service, congeniality and formed to review future directions for excellence in small animal medicine. our Reverence for Life Commitment. Two faculty members were among Drs. Robert Mason and Gary the many honorees; they are Dr. Johnston have just completed a John Tegzes, recipient of the mock student experience in a third- Pfizer/Norden Award for Teaching year practice at Dr. Jim Excellence, and Dr. Tom Phillips, Diefenbach’s practice,The Animal recipient of the Pfizer Award for Hospital of Huntington Beach. We Research.The first Staff Excellence also continue to work on the Self Awards went to Ms. Edna Cova and Study Report, currently in draft form, Ms. Donna Dunn of our for the AVMA Council on Education’s administrative offices for their fine October site visit. , DVM, PhD service and dedication. HUGE continued on page 3... Shirley D. Johnston congratulations to all. he chatter of our wonderful In our 2-month summer break, from students in the rooms, mid-May to the beginning of the next MAY/JUNE 2004 T laboratories, hallways and Orientation Week on August 2, we are atrium of the Veterinary Medicine all taking a little time to vacation, INSIDE THIS ISSUE Center ended May 14, 2004, with the advance our research and to last day of final examinations. After complete work on the second and finals our students scattered to some of the third-year curricula. In summer jobs, practice experience in late May we interviewed candidates Italy, a zoonotic disease trip to for open faculty positions, and were Morroco, a South African conference pleased to identify four candidates to on veterinary medicine for African whom positions were extended. All wildlife, a Fulbright research project four accepted our offers and will start in India, equine research at work in July and September. Under The College of Veterinary Medicine’s new mobile care unit arrives...... PAGE 5 Polytechnic University, Pomona, and, the leadership of Dr. Steve hopefully, lots of rest. I congratulate Waldhalm, PBL Coordinator, and Dr. these fine students on their John Tegzes, Associate PBL CVM’S NEW “BOWIE UNIT” completion of the first year of our Coordinator, problem-based learning ...... PAGE 3 innovative new curriculum, and our cases are being completed (mini- STUDENT PROFILES fine faculty on their hard work, tutored, dress-rehearsed) for the diligence and endurance in making second year. Task forces have ...... PAGES 2 & 3 that curriculum a reality. reported to the Curriculum FACULTY PROFILES ...... PAGE 4 The College held its first Honors Day Committee on the external reviews of

CVMCVMCVM PROFILESPROFILESPROFILES

I completed my LARA DOWNS-KAPLAN I am 33 years old and back in school to MIKE KAVANAGH prerequisites for veterinary fulfill my dream of caring for animals. school at Cal Poly Pomona. With the dairy and small animal At this time in my career, experiences I have had, I plan to be the my focus is on working best veterinarian I can be with the with exotics, small animals innovative education I am now and birds. receiving at Western University of Health Sciences. My wife and I share in the joy of our first-born daughter, Reagan Sue Kavanagh.

I was born in New York, but have lived in CARMEN LOPEZ First, I must share with all the gratitude KATHLEEN LYNDE I owe to my daughter for her patience southern California for ten years. After a and understanding in my endeavors. As career as a foreign exchange broker, I a native Angelino my education has also earned a BFA. I worked as a vet stayed local, graduating from California technician while completing my Polytechnic University, Pomona with a prerequisites at Cal Poly Pomona. BS degree in biology. My veterinary Thrilled to be part of Western’s Charter interests have focused on small animal class, I am enjoying my education. My medicine, however I am leaving my husband, Chad and I have dogs and a options open for the potentially hidden wide variety of exotic pets. “eye-opening” passions that this practice has to offer.

I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis I grew up in the small town of Coal JENNIFER MAGEE LAUREN MATZUKA Obispo in June 2003, and am City, Illinois and have dreamed excited to be here! I am interested about becoming a veterinarian in doing small animal and small since elementary school. I am a exotic animal (rodents!) medicine. 2003 graduate from Beloit College I have been happily married for in Beloit, WI with a BS in almost a year and have two biochemistry. I have worked with a adorable kittens at home. Outside wide range of animals, from zebras of school, I spend a lot of time and oryx to cats and dogs. Both painting miniatures and gaming. small animal and equine medicine are of interest to me.

I’m following my father’s footsteps in REBECCA MERLO LYNDSEY NAJIMA I was born and raised in San Jose, becoming a veterinarian, as we California and received my share similar passions for animals undergraduate degree in and medicine. I grew up in a suburb physiological science from UCLA in of Chicago and received my BS in 2002. I worked for a year at a small biochemistry from UC San Diego. animal clinic in West Los Angeles The loves of my life are my two cats, and am now very fortunate to be Annie and Fiddle...oh, I have a fiancé earning a degree in such an named Houston, too. My interests are innovative program. in small animal internal medicine, teaching and research.

PAGE 2 MAY/JUNE 2004

HEIDI NEW I was born and raised in California TRISH OGLE I was born and raised in California’s and I have wanted to be a Central Valley, where my love for working veterinarian since I was in with animals grew.Through involvement elementary school. I attended CSU, in FFA and projects at Cal Poly, San Luis Sacramento were I graduated with a Obispo, where I earned my BS in animal BS in molecular biology with a science, I further developed this passion. minor in chemistry. When I I am supported by a wonderful boyfriend graduate I hope to become a small Tony and my chocolate lab, Bocephus. animal surgeon and radiologist. When not studying, I enjoy working on and driving my customized Mustang.

I grew up in Southern California, primarily in the I was born and raised in Pasadena, RANA ELIZABETH OLSEN SIBYL POLANCO . I received my BS in biology from California. I attended Cal Poly California State University, San Bernardino. During Pomona where I obtained my BS in my undergraduate studies at Crafton Hills College, animal science. I am truly blessed my microbiology professor and her husband and honored to be in the charter allowed me to work on their alpaca ranch, where class of Western University’s I found my calling. My hope is to open a large veterinary program. I am also very animal practice with a specialty in camelid fortunate to have such encouraging medicine. I look forward to working with all the and understanding family and wonderful people here at Western University and fiancé. Class of 2007 we have watching all of our dreams become reality. completed our first year! One step closer to achieving our goal!

The College recently received this ’89 Chevy pick-up truck r. Billy Hooper climbs into the “cockpit” complete with a “Bowie unit” after chairing the summer Advisory Council donated by Dr.& Mrs. Dean Hill of Temecula. Dr.Hill, a Meeting and heads out for his home in D retired equine practitioner Lafayette, Indiana. After spending five months with thought this might be an us as Interim Associate Dean of Pre-Clinical appropriate gift to the Programs, he and his wife Janice look forward to a College. Our Charter Class has twenty-six members in leisurely drive across the country. His time with us the student chapter of the was very productive and much enjoyed by American Association of students, staff and faculty. Thank you, Dr. Hooper. Equine Practitioners.Thank you, Dr.& Mrs. Hill.

...continued from front page That draft has been provided to students, faculty, and the CVM Advisory Council for their input and will be polished into final form this summer. Finally, I want to welcome Dr. Jane Shaw, DVM from Michigan State and PhD from the University of Guelph (epidemiology, communications) who joined our faculty in May. And welcome back to Dr. Ashley Robinson, returning from his retirement home in New Zealand to continue service as interim Associate Dean for Preclinical Programs. Farewell and HUGE thanks to Dr. Billy E. Hooper who served as interim Associate Dean for Preclinical Programs from January through May. Dr. Hooper is the architect of our curriculum and chair of the CVM Advisory Council. We look forward to seeing him again in October during our COE Site Visit.

MAY/JUNE 2004 PAGE 3

JOHN H. TEGZES CVMCVMCVM PROFILESPROFILESPROFILES working in private practice, he spent certifying exam of the American much of his free time in the Board of Veterinary Toxicology, and mountains and on the coast enjoying became a Diplomate of this specialty numerous outdoors activities, despite board.Two weeks later he moved the rain.After spending five years in south to join the faculty here at small animal practice in Portland, OR, Western University. At home, he is Dr.Tegzes pursued his interest in never seen without his five-year-old veterinary toxicology by completing a Golden Retriever, Lola, who he residency in toxicology at the describes as a big goofball. He is University of California at Davis. convinced that her mission in life is to During his time at UC Davis, Dr. make people smile and laugh. In ohn H. Tegzes, DVM joined the Tegzes focused on diagnostic and addition to Lola, he has two cats that College of Veterinary Medicine as clinical toxicology. He especially Jan Associate Professor of enjoys investigating the diagnosis and are now 14- and 15-years old and have Toxicology in August, 2003. Dr.Tegzes treatment of poisonous plant been his constant companions since was raised in a suburb of exposures in large animals. For that before he started veterinary school, Philadelphia, PA and received his VMD reason, California has been a having moved with him from east to from the University of Pennsylvania in wonderful place for him to be a west and from north to south. Dr. 1995. Upon graduation from toxicologist, as the diverse terrain and Tegzes takes great pride in working veterinary school, Dr.Tegzes relocated climates are home to more poisonous with veterinary students and to the very beautiful Pacific plants than in any other state. In July, mentoring our profession’s newest Northwest, where in addition to 2003, he successfully completed the colleagues.

ane R. Shaw, DVM, PhD joined Epidemiology at the University of JANE R. SHAW the College of Veterinary Medicine Guelph in Ontario, Canada. The title Jas an Assistant Professor of of her PhD thesis was Epidemiology in May, 2004. Dr. Shaw Communication Skills and the received her veterinary degree from Veterinarian-Client-Patient Michigan State University in 1994. Relationship, the first study After spending two years in conducted of the veterinarian-client- companion animal practice in patient communication. In a theme of northern New Jersey, Dr. Shaw joined firsts, while at OVC, she developed Cornell University as an instructor in the student-centered Community the problem-based learning Wellness Service, which focused on curriculum and clinician for the preventative medicine and clinical Community Practice Service.While at interviewing. In addition, she advised Cornell, she developed Cornell the development of the first Pet Loss Companions, an animal-assisted Support Hotline in Canada. Dr. Shaw activities program that works with is currently serving on the steering Canada. Dr. Shaw brings to Western developmentally disabled children committee for the first International University her passions for social and advised student volunteers of the Conference on Communication in epidemiology, human-animal Pet Loss Support Hotline. Most Veterinary Medicine being held in interactions, communication and recently, she completed her PhD in June in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, student-centered learning.

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New Mobile Animal Care Unit Makes its Debut

Lara Rasmussen, DVM and friend in front of the beautiful 36' long mobile clinic, the Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS) vehicle. This vehicle, funded by grants from the Bosack Krueger Foundation, PetsMart Charities and private donors, will be used for community outreach (to shelters, rescues and homeless centers) as part of the Clinical Skills Course, as well as other college events.

Mission Statement The VACS program offers basic veterinary care to underserved animal populations and the people who care for them.VACS is dedicated to increasing successful pet-family relationships and reducing homeless animal populations through education and care.This service- learning initiative promotes veterinary student learning about medicine, societal issues and community service through active civic engagement and outreach. VACS at Work The human-animal bond is a powerful, positive influence on the physical and mental well-being for both participants. The Veterinary Ambulatory Community The Beauty of Service-Learning Service (VACS) program will facilitate the maintenance or Service-learning has two concepts central to its establishment of that bond to the betterment of individuals methodology. First, service experiences are used to and communities. Since it can be a challenge—physically, enhance learning (i.e., serving to learn). Involvement in mentally and financially—to care for companion animals, service activities can increase student motivation, we seek to ease that burden through the provision of substantiate learning of classroom activities and introduce veterinary medical care and animal care education to the student to real-world complexity. Second, service- populations in need. To facilitate this process, we will rely learning allows the student to recognize, develop and on the organizational structure of existing human and refine the act of service (i.e., learning to serve.) Helping animal service organizations in the Los Angeles area to students to develop a spirit of service and the knowledge identify and contact populations in need of care.Western of opportunities that exist in home veterinary health care, University-CVM and each organization will collaboratively animal shelter medicine, and cost-effective community design VACS events that offer our services to their patrons; service veterinary care is a key goal of the VACS and of the the VACS vehicle, staff and students will manage each Western University-CVM education. individual event.

MAY/JUNE 2004 PAGE 5 Calendar of Events THE OUTLOOK Newsletter June 3-6, 2004 July 30-Aug 1, 2004 College of Veterinary Medicine Leadership Conference-WSU CVMA Summer Seminar Pullman,WA Monterey, CA Western University of Health Sciences June 7, 2004 August 2-7, 2004 Advisory Council Meeting-Fairplex Orientation Week for 2nd Class Editor: Equine Park, Pomona, CA Robert V. Mason, DVM August 7, 2004 909.469.5628 June 25-27, 2004 Convocation & White Coat [email protected] CVMA Annual Conference Ceremonies San Francisco, CA Graphic Designer: August 9, 2004 Paul Gettler July 13-16, 2004 Classes begin First International conference on 909.469.5256 Communication October 16-21, 2004 [email protected] In Veterinary Medicine, Site visit by the AVMA, Council on Niagra-on-the-Lake, Education 309 E. Second Street Ontario, Canada Pomona, California 91766-1854 July 24-28, 2004 www.westernu.edu/cvm AVMA Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

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College of Veterinary Medicine 309 E. Second Street Pomona, California 91766-1854