School of Veterinary Studies, the University of Edinburgh DICK Vet News
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Newsletter for the Alumni & Friends of The Royal (Dick) Issue Number 22 Autumn 2009 School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh DICK VET news HELPING TO BEAT CANCER New Cancer Centre Opens p3 | Alan Wilson Honorary Degree p4 | Do Tongue Ties Work? p13 INSIDE A Day in the Life of the Pathology Lab p18 | Dick Vet Car Club p21 Dick Vet News Autumn 2009 Dick Vet News Autumn 2009 NEWS 3 CONTENTS MEssAGE FROM CANCER CENTRE LAUNCH HEAD OF SCHOOL Riddell-Swan Veterinary Cancer Centre opened on 9th June. Welcome to the November edition of Dick 3 Vet News. Life has been action-packed since the Spring edition with the opening New Cancer Centre Opens of our new Oncology and Imaging Centre FEATURES (page 3) and an intensive programme of visits in Australia and the United States SMALL ANIMAL in June, Alan Wilson’s Honorary Degree PRACTICE SUCCESS 16 in July (page 4) and Richard Leakey’s landmark William Dick Memorial Lecture OUR MAN IN AFRICA 17 in September (page 7). the QUEST FOR DIAGNOSIS The frames of the new teaching and – FROM CATS TO WARTHOGS 18 research buildings are now erected and visible from my office. You can view the building work WHAT DID YOU DO real-time on web cams installed on site (http:// LAST SUMMER? 19 www.easterbush.estates.ed.ac.uk/cameras/). There is now an element of good-humoured CLINICIAN OR ACADEMIC Professor David Argyle, Professor Elaine Watson, The Duchess and Duke of Hamilton and competition between the contractors working Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal of the University of Edinburgh. JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN OBE – I CAN’T CHOOSE! 19 on the teaching and research buildings John Morrison Riddell-Swan was as to which will be taller and which will be The Riddell-Swan Veterinary Cancer Specialist staff at the Centre will include born in Wigtownshire in 1926. REGULARS finished earlier. Both are still on schedule for Centre was opened on 9th June by the a Veterinary Nurse specialised in Cancer After completing his education at completion in early 2011. Duchess of Hamilton. Located at the Care. The nurse will replace Linda Roberts, Stranraer High School, he entered News 3 Fundraising for the new buildings is on Hospital for Small Animals at Easter Bush, pictured on the front cover. Linda was the the Dick Vet College, graduating in track, and our new Director of Fundraising, the Centre is treating up to 20 cases of first specialist veterinary cancer nurse in 1948. After a spell in large animal Staff News 11 David Rider, is now looking for class gifts to animal cancer a week. the UK and is soon to move on to another practice at the Dick Vet, Biggar, Clinic News 12 fund seminar and tutorial rooms. Each of programme, some of whom are featured State of the art equipment, including post after five years at the Dick Vet. and in Stranraer, he moved to these has a cost of approximately £30,000, in this edition, and to employ staff who are a CT scanner, will make it possible to The Cancer Centre forms part of the Hong Kong in 1952 to take up a research News 13 and for a class of 60, this would mean only world-leading in their clinical or research fields. scan large and small animals. As well as £100 million Easter Bush re-development, post in private veterinary practice £500 each, and it’s tax deductible. The room This issue includes details of the high success treating cancer patients, the Centre will which includes a research building and and Consultant to the Royal Hong Alumni news 20 would be named “Class of 19XX”, and there rate that our younger staff continue to achieve conduct research looking at issues such teaching building. Fundraising support Kong Jockey Club. would be a plaque with the names of all in specialist Diploma exams (page 9), as environmental risk factors and cancer from individuals, Trusts and corporate John became a Veterinary Officer Editor in Chief Elaine Watson the individuals who had contributed plus helping to ensure the UK’s next generation of causing genes. partners play a key part in this investment. in the Hong Kong Government in Editor Neil Wilson their graduating class photo. Indeed, as we Specialists in veterinary medicine. Centre Director, Professor David Argyle The Centre is named the Riddell-Swan 1956 and in 1980, after serving Editorial Services provided by approach the move to Easter Bush, Neil I do hope you will enjoy this latest edition said: “The Centre will have the most Veterinary Cancer Centre after the Class of as Deputy-Director, he became Stephanie Brickman PR Wilson has now set aside four weekends in of the Dick Vet News, and that you will share sophisticated diagnostic procedures, ’48 Alumnus, John Riddell-Swan, whose Director of the Hong Kong 2010 for Alumni who wish to visit Summerhall as much in the School’s future as you have followed by comprehensive cancer widow, Minnie, has made a major gift to Agriculture and Fisheries, and also for a final time (dates on page 24). played in maintaining the School’s proud therapies for pets, including a linear ensure the project came into being. Director of Marketing for the Country Cover Image: Linda Roberts, Planning never stops at the School to keep tradition and heritage in the past. accelerator to provide radiotherapy.” Commenting on the donation, Minnie Park Authority. He served as a Veterinary Cancer Nurse our facilities second to none in Europe. We are “Our understanding in treating cats said “I am really thrilled that the Centre Government-appointed Member now developing a detailed 10 - and 20 - year and dogs of how cancer takes hold has been named for John, especially of the Legislative Council between If you have any ideas or feedback vision plan for the Easter Bush campus to act will also pave the way for comparative this year, which would have been our 1980 and 1983. In 1981, he was for the Dick Vet News email as a guide for the location of future buildings, research, relating what we know about 50th wedding anniversary.” awarded an OBE. [email protected] including an options appraisal for relocation of Professor Elaine Watson the disease in animals to humans to In 1986 John retired to the equine hospital as the equine surgery unit improve treatments for all.” n If you would like further information Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast nears the end of its functional days. n For further information on our Around one in three dogs and one on how to support the School of Australia, where he had spent However, facilities will always come second fundraising activities please visit in five cats will develop cancer, and the please contact [email protected]. his honeymoon with his new wife, to the quality of our staff and students, and www.vet.ed.ac.uk/fundraising, disease is the main cause of mortality in uk or call 0131 650 8833. Minnie, 27 years earlier. we continue to attract the best possible email [email protected] household pets, although new treatments school leavers and graduates onto our or call David Rider on 0131 650 8833. have led to better survival rates. 4 NEWS Dick Vet News Autumn 2009 Dick Vet News Autumn 2009 NEWS 5 MILESTONE FOR A NEW TEACHING BUILDING A landmark phase has been reached in the construction of the new teaching building at Easter Bush. best possible experience for today and tomorrow’s students and to future-proof, as far as possible, the investment. The funding of the latest technologies is only possible through the generosity of a wide range of supporters and friends of the Dick Vet. Various grant-making Trusts have been very excited about the plans and are investing to help ensure the funding goal is reached. A number of alumni representatives are also coming forward to organise collective donations for their class year, country of birth or retirement. These donations are being recognised by naming rooms after the group and honouring them with a permanent plaque and, where Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Alan Wilson and Professor David Hume following the Graduation Ceremony. Professor Elaine Watson completes the final part of Dougie Hanley of Balfour Beatty hangs a fir branch possible, photographs. the floor. from the tallest point of the building for good luck! To celebrate the success or to honour a loved one, seats within the new lecture Builders have now put in place the final our worldwide reputation for veterinary theatres are available to be individually ALAN WILSON HONORARY DEGREE structure of the £42 million bespoke teaching and provide students and staff with named for a modest donation. This area building, which will provide 11,500 square a learning environment second to none.” of the campaign has been of particular The man they call the “White Monkey King” honoured by School. metres of floor space and accommodation The new Vet School forms part of a interest to current and recently graduated for 1,200 staff and students. To mark £100 million development on the Easter students and their parents. These are only The degree of Doctor Honoris Causa the 1990s and the game has really taken raised more than $1 million in two years the progress in construction, a “topping Bush site, which will also include a new a few of the ways in which much needed was awarded to Class of ’63 alumnus off all over the country,” he explains. to assist in reconstruction. out ceremony” was carried out on 24th research building.