The University of Georgia ® Aesculapian College of Veterinary Medicine Fall 2012/Winter 2013 Vol. 13 , No. 1

Picture Your Pet Finalists from our 2012 Photo Contest Find out more about our cover dog, Hurley, on page 15.

Also Inside: Student Finds Pathway to Research A Cat’s Eye View Summer in Bahrain Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 Vol. 13, No. 1

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kat Yancey Gilmore

MANAGING Editor Jessica Luton

Contributing Writers Jessica Luton Kat Yancey Gilmore Sarah Freeman James Hataway Taylor “Eve” Winkleman

Photography Sue Myers Smith Christopher B. Herron Sarah Freeman Taylor “Eve” Winkleman

Design Jessica Luton

ASSISTANT COPY EDITORS Carlton Bain CVM student Erica Noland received the Morris Animal Scholarship Sue Myers Smith 29last summer for her research proposal on canine cancer. Administration Michael F. Adams, President Jere W. Morehead, Provost Sheila W. Allen, Dean Gary Baxter, Director, Veterinary Teaching A Message from the Dean 3 Hospital Kat Yancey Gilmore, Director, Public Relations Sarah Freeman, Director, Hospital Communications CollegeNews 4 Kathy Bangle, Director, Veterinary External Affairs 4 News from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Carlton Bain, Assistant Director, Development Marti Brick, Director, Alumni Relations 5 A Cat’s View: Study Reveals World of Roaming Cats Aesculapian is published by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Office of Public Relations for alumni and friends. 7 Deworming Drugs Led to Widespread Parasitic Resistance Please send story ideas, class notes or letters to: 9 In Case of an Emergency: UGA Creates Emergency Pet Shelter Plans Editor, Aesculapian The University of Georgia 11 The Miracle of Rascal: One Owner’s Devoted Experience College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, GA 30602-7371 or email: [email protected] 13 Picture Your Pet: Finalists from our 2012 Contest

Copyright © 2013, The University of Georgia No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from the editor. The University of Georgia is committed to StudentNews 17 principles of equal opportunity and affirmative student’s Externship in Bahrain Inspires Personal Essay, Scholarship action. 17

UGA College of Veterinary Medicine 25 student News Alumni Association Board

Flynn Nance, President 26 Our Student Ambassadors Michael J. Topper, Immediate Past-President Chad Schmiedt, President-elect 27 students Participate in Science of Veterinary Medicine Symposium Doris Miller, Secretary-Treasurer Jon Anderson Stephen Arbitter 28 Recognitions from our 2012 Honors and Awards Banquet Charlie Broussard Scott Bryant Rebecca Dixon 29 Morris Scholarship Helps Spur Student’s Interest in Research Jamie Fleming Alan Herring 31 Welcoming the Class of 2016 Thomas Hutto Ginger Macaulay Catherine McClelland 32 Omega Tau Sigma Hosting Grand Council Jan Sosnowski Nichol Bill Seanor Sheila W. Allen, Dean; Ex officio Follow us! facebook.com/ugacvm twitter.com/ugavetmed flickr.com/ugavetmed 17 A student’s externship to Bahrain inspires a photo essay and a plan for a scholarship. FacultyNews 33 33 Faculty News 35 New model explains puzzling Lyme disease patterns 35 Jackwood, Edwards appointed to endowed professorships 35 barsanti honored by Cornell CVM 37 CVM researcher developing new mumps vaccine

AlumniNews 39 39 A Message from the President of the Alumni Association 40 Alumni Profile: Koren Moore Custer 41 Class Notes 43 upcoming Continuing Education Schedule On the Cover: 45 VMLC Groundbreaking Hurley Luper’s photo 46 Why I Give: Katie Beacham was among the finalists selected from our 2012 Picture Your Pet Photo Contest. Read Hurley’s story on page 15. Photo submitted by David and Iniray Luper.

flickr.com/ugavetmed youtube.com/ugavetmed foursquare.com/ugavetmed Dear Alumni and Friends of the College, As we settle into a new year, there is much to celebrate on the CVM’s horizon:

• construction crews are scheduled to break ground on the site of our new Veterinary Medical Learning Center in March (we are still fundraising for this important project); • in a few weeks, we’ll gather to celebrate our 50th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend; • our first-year students are scurrying to plan our upcoming Annual Open House; • and, our Admissions Committee has just sent out acceptance offers to admit 102 more students into the Class of 2017!

But as so many of you know so well, we have much to celebrate here on a daily basis – and, we strive to showcase some of our successes in each issue of our Aesculapian. This issue is no exception. Here’s a “peek” at some of the wonderful stories that I encourage you to read:

• “The Miracle of Rascal,” an amazing tale of a Yorkshire Terrier who was hit by a pickup truck, yet survived. • Hard work, and not much summer play, may pay off big for canines – and hopefully humans, too – that suffer from malignant mammary cancer, thanks to Morris Animal Scholar Erica Noland (DVM ’14) and her mentors. • Now a second-year student, Eve Winkleman spent Summer 2012 working at an animal shelter in Bahrain. Her experience spurred her to find a way to help these animals in perpetuity. And her background as a photographer yielded thousands of photos for her memory – including some for our viewing pleasure. • An MRI to service large animals is among the latest technologies offered by our UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). Don’t miss our VTH update! • And, some of the top photos from our recent Picture Your Pet photo contest are on display in this issue, and on the walls of our VTH.

In each Aesculapian, we feature a segment we call “Why I Give.” I am always inspired by the reasons people choose to support our College. This feature on Katie Beacham will warm your heart, as it reminds us that life is a gift, each moment is fleeting, and that quality time to say goodbye to our loved ones is among the greatest gifts of all.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did, and thank you, as always, for your dedication and support of our College.

Sincerely,

DeanSheila W. Allen

3 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine CollegeNews

UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital Update: MRI, Endoscopy Towers and Lameness Locator Signal are our newest technologies

By Sarah Freeman

he UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) house to be able to do emergency MRIs, and the ability to Tis the proud home of several new technological do a horse, is a great addition to the services we offer. It advancements, including an in-house MRI, which opens up more properties compared with what we had will service both small animals and horses. Four new before, too, including new neurological applications.” endoscopy towers and an equine Lameness Locator were The VTH is also the owner of four new high-definition also recently purchased. endoscopy towers that provide not only a clearer viewing The MRI, which was delivered with the help of a crane in area, but one that is larger, too. Using a 1080p resolution, early November and assembled indoors due to its massive these units are used by Zoological Medicine, Internal 12,400-pound weight, will be housed in the Large Animal Medicine, Large Animal Surgery, and Small Animal Hospital in a former exam room retrofitted specifically for Surgery for procedures including rhinoscopy, upper the equipment. The unit is a 1.5-tesla Siemens machine and lower GIs, biopsies, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and and is frequently found in human hospitals. thoracoscopy. “This MRI opens up a whole new service that we’ve The Large Animal Surgery and Equine Lameness never had before,” commented Shannon Holmes, DVM, services are now offering the technologies of the Lameness a board-certified veterinary radiologist and assistant Locator to evaluate equine lameness. The Lameness professor of diagnostic imaging. “To have an MRI in- Locator will add an objective analysis of the horse’s body movement to examinations for routine lameness. With the use of small inertial sensors, the Locator detects and quantifies asymmetry in the horse. The data is gathered in real-time and transmitted wirelessly to a tablet computer, which then allows for on-site analysis of the data. The system provides an analysis report that indicates which limb or limbs are involved, the magnitude of the lameness, and at which phase of the stride the horse experiences the most pain. “What I see as the most valuable use of the Lameness Locator is in the evaluation of low-grade, performance- limiting lameness, multi-limb lameness, and the objective evaluation of our diagnostic anesthesia,” said Large Animal Section Chief Randy Eggleston, DVM, a board-certified surgeon and clinical associate professor of large animal medicine. “The Lameness Locator is not meant to replace our skill as lameness diagnosticians, but instead to add an objective element to some of the more challenging lameness cases that we see.” All of these technologies, including the MRI, will move to the new Veterinary Medical Learning Center when it opens. In the meantime, these services are currently available to our clients and referring veterinarians. Photo by Sarah Freeman The UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is the proud home of several new technological advancements, including this in-house MRI to service large and small animals.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 4 CollegeNews

A Cat’s View: Crittercams Study Reveals World of Roaming Cats By Jessica Luton A collaborative study led by Sonia M. Hernandez, Among the researchers’ surprises: Cats sometimes adopt DVM, PhD, DACZM, in partnership with the National a second set of owners, going into another household for Geographic Society, received national media attention in food and affection. 2012, from the likes of the New York Times, the Huffington Researchers were also surprised by the hunting habits Post, ABC News, NBC Nightly News, and NPR, just to of the cats, said Hernandez. In particular, factors such name a few. as gender were surprisingly insignificant in predicting The project aimed to show the secret lives of roaming whether a cat was a hunter. And only a minority of the domestic cats by training owners to use the National cats hunted, but the hunting habits of the cats are still Geographic Crittercam, a camera worn comfortably significant for urban wildlife populations. around the cat’s collar. The result yielded more than 2000 “Probably the most surprising finding is that the most hours of data that gave researchers a sort of reality-TV-like frequent prey were reptiles,” she said. “Birds and small look into the daily lives of domestic cats’ activities. mammals receive a lot of media attention and are more easily ‘noticed’ by owners (e.g., coming home to a pile Highlights from their findings include: of feathers) than a dead (and likely desiccated) lizard on the porch, so it makes sense. But reptiles play extremely • Only 44% of the cats hunted wildlife, with important ecosystem functions (e.g., lizards consuming reptiles, mammals and invertebrates constituting insects) in our backyards and should receive more the majority of suburban prey; only 30 percent attention.” made successful wildlife captures. The recent media attention, she added, was actually • Cat age, sex, and time spent outdoors did not spurred by a press release from the American Bird significantly influence hunting behavior. Conservancy that used the results of the study to • 85% engaged in at least one risky behavior, extrapolate the number of hunting cats in the country and including crossing roads (45%), encountering its potential effect on bird populations. strange cats (25%), eating and drinking “We are happy that it has re-initiated a conversation substances away from home (25%), exploring about why we need to supervise our cats when they are storm drain systems (20%), and entering outdoors for two reasons,” she said. crawlspaces where they could become trapped First, cats that hunt are adding to all the other already- (20%). present pressures on our urban wildlife, she said. For some • Male cats were more likely to exhibit risky people, urban wildlife is sometimes the only wildlife that behavior than female cats; older cats exhibited they will get to see or experience and urban habitats may fewer risky behaviors. be the last frontier for some species, so it would be nice to keep it free of non-native predators.

5 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Photos courtesy of kittycams.uga.edu “Second, no veterinarian will dispute that cats that Wildlife Disease Study and the UGA Warnell School of live indoors or are supervised when outdoors live Forestry and Natural Resources. Her co-collaborators on longer, healthier lives,” she said. “As a former clinician, the project were: The National Geographic Society; John first of small animals, I hated to see cats poisoned or P. Carroll, professor of wildlife ecology and management hit by vehicles brought to the clinic. Later as wildlife at Warnell; and, graduate student Kerrie Anne Loyd. practitioner, I felt it was unfair that so many critters Sponsorship for the project was provided by: The would end up in the hospital with fatal injuries from National Geographic Society; Kenneth A. Scott cats.” Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust; the Morris Animal The study is now looking for funding to apply this Foundation Veterinary Scholars Program; Oconee technology to study a colony of feral cats that are Rivers Audubon Society; the Warnell School of Forestry managed as a trap-neuter-release colony and whose and Natural Resources; Pender Pet Caring Foundation. manager is truly interested in knowing what the cats are doing. “We know there are behavioral differences between owned pet cats and feral cats and we would like to understand how that translates to their hunting For More behavior,” she said. “We are looking for other feral cat colony managers who would be willing to collaborate Information on this effort because this technology and its analysis is a very objective methodology and we are interested For more details on the study, in bridging the gap between cat and wildlife activists including video footage and photos, and solid science.” visit: www.kittycams.uga.edu Hernandez is an assistant professor of wildlife disease who is jointly appointed to the CVM’s Southeastern

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 6 CollegeNews

Overuse of Deworming Drugs Led to Widespread Resistance Among Parasites By James Hataway

long-forgotten foe is beginning to reemerge on “It was like a golden age where all of a sudden the A pastures and meadows around the world, and farmers parasites that farmers have been dealing with for so long are finding that they have no way to combat it. Parasitic were gone,” Kaplan said. “Our animals never looked better, worms infecting cows, sheep, goats and horses are they never produced better, and so it made sense to keep becoming resistant to the drugs used to kill them, and if giving animals these drugs.” changes are not made in how the few remaining drugs that But as farmers reaped the benefits, parasites were still work are used, there may be no way left to fight the slowly evolving immunity to the drugs. Eventually, the growing threat, according to Ray Kaplan, a University of drugs stopped working, and farmers scrambled for new Georgia professor in the department of infectious diseases. pharmaceuticals–or made cocktails comprised of several Kaplan has studied drug-resistant parasites for drugs to keep the worms at bay. years, and his findings recently published in the journal Kaplan worries that if the industry continues Veterinary Parasitology warn that the continued overuse of to overuse the few remaining drugs that still work, deworming drugs has the potential to create parasites that widespread resistance will decrease the profitability of cannot be killed. raising livestock and force “We’re already seeing the more farmers out of business. worst-case scenario playing To correct the problem, out,” Kaplan said. “In goats Kaplan says farmers must particularly, which have the adjust their attitudes about worst problems with parasites parasites and make some and drug resistance, we quite fundamental changes to how frequently see farms that they care for their animals. have parasite resistance to all “We’re trying to change dewormers. Some of these the paradigm of parasite farms reached the point where control so that farmers are they no longer could control willing to accept a certain level the effects of the parasites and of production loss in exchange decided to go out of business.” for sustainability,” Kaplan said. It wasn’t always this “We need to use less of these The Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber pole worm, way. Forty years ago when shown with its eggs. Photo provided by the Kaplan Lab. drugs and use them more deworming drugs were widely intelligently and selectively.” adopted by farmers and The mere presence of ranchers, the new treatments looked like a simple solution parasites in an animal is no cause for alarm. In fact, it is to an age-old problem. Parasites typically do not cause something Kaplan would like farmers to view as natural severe illness or death, but they do make animals grow and normal. Most animals have only low-level worm more slowly and produce less meat, milk or wool. infections, so rather than treating every animal to prevent With the simple application of a drug, farmers were the development of worms, Kaplan suggests reserving drug able to raise animals that were bigger, stronger and more use only for those animals that develop large or dangerous productive. Veterinarians and parasitologists advised infections. This will limit the number of parasites exposed widespread use of the new drugs as a prophylactic. Rather to the drugs, and slow the development of resistance. than treating only the animals with heavy parasitic Kaplan also suggests changing the ways in which infections that were ill, farmers frequently started giving farmers allow their animals to graze. The parasitic worms doses to all animals. live in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock, and eggs are

7 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine passed in animal feces. The eggs hatch and develop into worm larvae, which then crawl onto the grass. Livestock become infected when they graze on the pasture and ingest the larvae. If animals are allowed to graze freely on large, open pastures, they will naturally tend to favor some segments of the pasture more than others. As they congregate more in those areas, they come in contact with more fecal matter and, consequently, more parasites, he said. A simple solution to this problem is to divide the pasture into segments with fencing and to periodically Haemonchus contortus worms in the stomach of a sheep. You can see rotate animals to new grass. The new areas have fewer the “barber pole” appearance of the worms. Photo courtesy of the parasites, and many of the parasites left behind on old Kaplan Lab. pasture will die naturally before the animals return. “This decreases exposure,” Kaplan said. “Although it’s to other farmers who might be hesitant to adopt the simple, the same number of animals on the same amount of land, more sustainable approach. by rotating pastures, the animals are less exposed to the “If you use a drug to kill an infectious agent such as parasites and have less need for treatment.” bacteria, viruses or parasites, eventually you probably will These methods have proven successful in farms get drug resistance,” Kaplan said. “But how rapidly that Kaplan has visited where parasite drug resistance was occurs, whether it occurs over several years or several extremely high, and he hopes that they serve as an example decades, will be determined by how the drug is used.”

Don’t miss the College of Veterinary Medicine’s next OPEN HOUSE Friday, April 5th, 2013

For more information or for directions to the College, please visit us at: www.vet.uga.edu/openhouse CollegeNews

In Case of an Emergency

UGA College of Veterinary Medicine prepares emergency shelter for pets hen the word “emergency” is spoken in the halls of By Sarah Freeman the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), most people think of a medical emergency, which can be treated in the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital. WHowever, thanks to a dedicated group of faculty and staff members, there is another type of emergency with which the CVM is involved: helping healthy animals that need somewhere to go when disaster strikes their home. The answer is in the creation of the Pet Friendly Shelter. The mostly likely scenario for using this type of shelter would be if a hurricane or some other natural disaster hit the coast of Georgia, explains Steffen Sum, DVM, an assistant professor of small animal internal medicine. Sum and six CVM colleagues, including committee chair Amie Koenig, DVM, an associate professor of small animal emergency/critical care medicine, have been instrumental in developing the plan for the animal shelter.

9 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine If the shelter is ever needed, it would be housed in during Hurricane Katrina, as well as with other CVMs, the UGA Livestock Instructional Arena on Milledge about programs they implement. While some states have Avenue in Athens, south of the State Botanical Garden of mobile units that provide assistance to animals in case of Georgia. The shelter can accommodate up to 250 dogs, emergency, or pet-friendly human shelters, no other state up to 150 cats, and approximately 30 small mammals, like is known to have an animal-specific emergency shelter. hamsters and gerbils. No reptiles or birds are allowed, and After the ad-hoc group met and planned over a two- large animals, such as horses, would be referred to other year period, there was so much work to be done that a facilities, of which the CVM has a list. The shelter would permanent committee was established to work closely with be open to, and free for, pets whose owners are staying at the CAES, the UGA Office of Security and Emergency the human shelter at the UGA Ramsey Student Center. Preparedness (OSEP), and several other organizations. “This is an extension of the human shelter,” Sum says. Although a lot of work has been done and there is a large “Ramsey can accommodate up to 500 people, and we to-do list, the animal emergency shelter could be activated estimate for every 10 people there may be one pet. It’s at any time, should the need arise. hard to know how many pets would come, but this “We have made some significant progress,” says Sum, animal shelter should be sufficient. We hope we never get “but there are still a lot of details to put together.” activated, but we have to be prepared.” This fall, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency The advantages of using (GEMA) sponsored a mock the UGA Livestock Arena, “There is still a lot of work left,” emergency exercise where the which is operated by the shelter opened and accepted UGA College of Agricultural concluded Sum, “but, a plan exists pets (which were actually and Environmental Sciences and now we have to implement the stuffed animals). Participants (CAES), are that it contains plan. People consider pets to be in the exercise included the some climate-controlled CVM, the UGA Center for areas, it is presently set up members of their family, and there Agribusiness & Economic for animals, and it is in close has to be a plan to help these family Development, the OESP, the proximity to the human members. It’s better to be prepared UGA Community Emergency shelter, as well as to the CVM, Response Team (CERT), which will provide staffing than surprised.” CAES, the American Red for the facility. Plans call for Cross, and representatives faculty members, technicians and students to take on from local animal shelters. The exercise took staff various roles if the shelter should be activated, and FEMA members through many scenarios from setting up would reimburse the shelter for most of the expenses. operations, computer systems, and photographing the pets Since 2006, when Congress passed the Pets Evacuation for identification, to responding to different emergencies and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), a like what to do if an owner is bitten by an animal or how to committee from the CVM has been creating plans to prevent the pets from being lost or stolen. establish and staff an emergency animal shelter. The PETS The exercise was a good practice run, and helped Act was adopted in response to Hurricane Katrina and the highlight issues that need improvement. Securing pledges fact that many people did not follow orders to evacuate of help from vendors in case of emergency, working with because they were afraid to leave their pets. Many of student groups like the UGA CVM’s student chapter of the shelters were not equipped to provide shelter for the the Association of Shelter Veterinarians to plan annual animals. To avoid situations like this in the future, each training, and improving ventilation of the building are a state was charged with coming up with a way to address few of the items on the to-do list. these scenarios. “There is still a lot of work left,” concluded Sum, “but, Georgia’s former governor, Sonny Perdue, charged a plan exists and now we have to implement the plan. Dean Sheila Allen with setting up an ad-hoc committee People consider pets to be members of their family, and to come up with suggestions. Research was done by there has to be a plan to help these family members. It’s contacting several agencies that worked with animals better to be prepared than surprised.”

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 10 CollegeNews

The Miracle of Rascal By Sarah Freeman

Photo courtesy of Carmen Studio Story

ohn Mazzola and his dog, Rascal, are inseparable. pounds, was hit by a pickup truck while he and Mazolla JThey have been since John Mazzola’s wife, Penny, were walking near their home in downtown Gray, Ga., in found Rascal in a pet store when he was just a puppy. early August. Mazolla scooped Rascal up and whisked him “I am so thankful Penny found him. She knew I was to their local veterinarian in Gray who gave Rascal an IV, mourning the loss of my previous dog, Gizmo, who passed took initial X-rays and sent him to the UGA VTH. away after 14-and-a-half years. She knew I needed a “My veterinarian said the only chance Rascal had was to Rascal in my life.” go to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Athens,” Whether John Mazzola and Rascal are walking around recalls Mazzola about the day he, his wife and Rascal made town doing errands, going to softball games at the local their first trip to the UGA VTH. “We made it to Athens in park, or riding in Mazzola’s car (affectionately called the about half the time it should have taken, and they knew we “Rascal-mobile” because of his “1Rascal” license plate), the were coming. The UGA emergency veterinarians were out two have created a very special bond. And the dedication in the parking lot to meet us at the car.” Mazzola showed Rascal by coming to visit him nearly Rascal immediately went into the emergency room every day of Rascal’s nearly two-and-a-half week stay and where several fractures were confirmed; the doctors also two surgeries at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital found damage to his abdomen, including a ruptured (VTH) is even more testament to their bond. bladder. He was put on a ventilator to help his breathing. Rascal, a Yorkshire Terrier who weighs not even 15 “At the initial meeting that night, I was falling to pieces.

11 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine My wife was falling to pieces. His condition was not good must have been painful, the hospital staff at UGA always and we didn’t know what would happen to him.” made sure Rascal was comfortable. I think he got better The next several days were a roller coaster of emotions, care there than most people get in a human hospital. If filled with uncertainty, then optimism, then more anything happens to me, take me to the veterinary concerns. hospital!” says Mazzola. “The miracle of Rascal was actually two-fold,” recalls Now, more than five months after the surgery, Rascal is Mazzola. “The first miracle was surviving the first 24 doing great. hours and then a five-hour surgery. The second major “The fact that Rascal is alive today really is a miracle,” miracle came when E. coli bacteria set in a few days after asserts Mazzola. “Rascal is back to his old self. He jumps the accident. For the second time, we were told the next 24 on the sofa and wants to do everything he used to do. He hours would be critical. And again, he pulled through.” has gained some weight, too, and you can’t really tell where Through all of Rascal’s peaks and valleys during his stay his scars are.” at the hospital, John Mazzola was there almost every day. “You need to know that my local veterinarian did not Several nights he even stayed in a local hotel to ensure he think that Rascal would live long enough to get from Gray could visit early the next morning. to Athens, but she did not realize that Rascal was in God’s hands,” recalls Mazzola. “He got us there, and He knew “The miracle of Rascal was actually that your faculty and staff would do the rest.” two-fold,” recalls Mazzola. “The first miracle was surviving the first 24 hours and then a five-hour sur- gery. The second major miracle came when E. coli bacteria set in a few days after the accident. For the second time, we were told the next 24 hours would be critical. And again, he pulled through.”

“Every morning started with an update of how Rascal had done the night before, and what time I could see him that day,” remembers Mazzola. “In the first 72 hours, I must have gotten six phone calls with updates, plus my visits. I thought that was really great to reassure me at such a critical time.” Mazzola really got to know the receptionists, the doctors, the veterinary technicians, and the rest of the staff during his frequent visits. “After all that he went through, and knowing that it Rascal Photo courtesy of Carmen Studio Story

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 12 CollegeNews Picture yourpet

Photogenic Felines and Camera-happy Canines Chosen as 2012 ‘Picture Your Veterinarians Pet’ Finalists serving publicBy Sarah Freeman health in the Epidemic Intelligence

...... My Dakota Category: Dogs fter a multi-year hiatus, the UGA Submitted by Angie Garcia Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s (VTH) Photo by Anne Yarbrough PictureA Your Pet contest returned with a flurry Dakota was diagnosed with in 2012. We received more than 250 wonderful hemangiosarcoma in the summer of entries of personable pets displaying a range of >>>> 2011. Despite the wonderful care of the emotions: pensive and playful, sweet and sassy, UGA faculty and staff who operated on inquisitive and engaging. him and administered his regular chemo Following a review by a panel of judges, 34 treatments, he succumbed to the dreaded disease photographs were selected as the winning entries. in September 2011. It was an emotional time, as There was no single winner, but rather several Dakota was my first canine companion when I was winners from each of four categories: dogs, cats, on my own as an adult. We grew a lot together. I horses and miscellaneous animals. What follows couldn’t have asked for a more faithful friend and is a representative sample of winning entries, a superb mentor for all the foster pups we took in complete with the photo and story about the over the years. His legacy lives on in each and every animal, from each category. one of those pups, and his spirit will live on forever ...... in my heart. 13 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Luna: It’s All Right to be Little-Bitty Category: Horses/Ponies Submitted by Polly Cleveland Luna is a 5-year-old American Miniature mare who stands 28-inches tall at the withers. Luna would not be alive today if it were not for the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. At just four weeks of age, weighing about 40 pounds, she underwent colic surgery and a gastrostomy. Miraculously, Luna survived and prospered.

Today, she is an exceptional halter

show horse, and she also gives back by visiting schools and nursing homes, where she is always>>>> a favorite due to her small size and coloring. >>>>>> Parker Chambers: Bright-eyed Parker Category: Cats Submitted by Colleen Chambers Parker was the beautiful orange tabby who was the joy in our day for almost 11 years. His social, affectionate nature captivated the hearts of everyone he met. Just like most cats, Parker spent his days watching the birds, sleeping in the sun, playfully chasing his brother, and purring contently during a belly rub. During the last four years, Parker encountered some health problems that brought us to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital on many occasions. Although the circumstances were less than desirable, the experience of meeting such dedicated professionals working tirelessly to provide exceptional care offered such comfort and hope. The care that Parker received allowed us four additional years together. >>>>>>

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 14 CollegeNews >>>>> Arrow: A Kiss for My Sweet Arrow Category: Miscellaneous Pets Submitted by Nickie Carter Photo by Rick Carter Arrow Carter is a 14-month-old Standard Bronze turkey. She has been raised with an enormous amount of love and attention. As a fuzzy poult, her head was adorned with a marking that was perfectly shaped like an arrow. As she grew, that fuzz was replaced with feathers, but the name stuck with her. Recently Arrow became a patient of the VTH when her crop suddenly enlarged and would not properly empty. Thankfully, the doctors and staff were able to successfully treat her and send her back home with us the next day. And, today she is doing great!

Hurley: Puppy Portrait Category: Dogs >>>>> Submitted by David and Iniray Luper One day just before he turned one, Hurley’s legs went lame and he developed a fever, which regularly peaked at over 106 degrees for two-and-a-half weeks. Our veterinarian could not figure out what was wrong. Hurley stopped eating and drinking, he could not walk, and he was in immense pain. He was admitted to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Emergency/Critical Care Service, where he stayed for five days, and was diagnosed with immune mediated polyarthritis. We were so shaken up and worried, but the veterinarians and staff at UGA saved our buddy! They put him on prednisone, which wound up resetting his immune system. Now he is a healthy 3 year old! Hurley is part of our family, and we can’t thank the folks at the UGA VTH enough for saving him!

15 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine ...... 2012 Picture Your Pet Contest Finalists Pet: Entry Name Client’s Name Hometown Category: Felines Bombom: All Mine Elsa Mann Lawrenceville, Ga. Chelsey and Angel: Window Dreams Lisa Last Moore Athens, Ga. Cyndy: Cyndy and the Shoe Lisa Williamson Bogart, Ga. Sienna: Kitten in Cement Block Lisa Hood Elberton, Ga. Lana: Headphones Mark Reagin Athens, Ga. Meko: Looking Out Gregory Mann Lawrenceville, Ga. Parker: Bright-eyed Parker Colleen Chambers Suwanee, Ga. Category: Canines Addy: On Chair Cory Gresham Winterville, Ga. Asa Katie Beacham Atlanta, Ga. Chelsea: Got Cookies Teresa Bacon Watkinsville, Ga. Dakota: My Dakota (by Anne Yarbrough) Angie Garcia Athens, Ga. Eddie and Merlin: Cuddling Cecile Thompson Gainesville, Ga. Fantasy 5 Times Two Angelia Chappelear Winterville, Ga. Gunner: Portrait No. 8,124 Sean Dunn & Cheryl Juska Athens, Ga. HRCH Clubmead’s Alli Gator (by Mark Atwater) Brenda & David McLendon Loganville, Ga. Hurley: Puppy Portrait David & Iniray Luper Athens, Ga. Liberty and Legend: Friends Leo Sage Athens, Ga. Mamie Daniel Smith Athens, Ga. Newman Becky Goldman Lincolnton, Ga. Paddy: On the Beach Mala Charapich Marietta, Ga. Rascal (by Carmen Story) John Mazzola Gray, Ga. Rocky: Sleepy Kathi Liebe Milledgeville, Ga. Socs: Happy Socs (by Gary Butts) Evelyn Smith Alpharetta, Ga. Templeton: Just Relaxin’ Phyllis Avery Elberton, Ga. Zachary: He is the Window to My Soul Sean Dunn & Cheryl Juska Athens, Ga. Category: Horses/Ponies Gee Whiz Diane Kirby Greensboro, Ga. Gracie Hannah Williams Overland Park, Kan. Gunner: What the Hay? Carrie & Mike Russell Carlton, Ga. Luna: It’s All Right to be Little-Bitty Polly Cleveland Winterville, Ga. Olivia: A Kiss is Worth a Thousand Words Ashley Lohmeyer Roswell, Ga. (by Alex Smith) Category: Misc. Animals Arrow: A Kiss for My Sweet Arrow Nickie & Rick Carter Bogart, Ga. Fred Renee & Jamie Barber Bogart, Ga. Stillcrazy Farm Rosie Robbie Buchanan Jefferson, Ga. TuTu...... Charming and Mary Mae Lisa Williamson Bogart, Ga. For a complete list of winning entries and a link to the slide show, please visit www.vet.uga.edu/go/photo-contest.php, or scan this QR code with your smart phone.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 16 StudentNews Inspiredin

Student’s visit stirs scholarship potential PhotosBahrain and story by Taylor “Eve” Winkleman (DVM ’15)

Editor’s Note For second-year veterinary student the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Taylor “Eve” Winkleman, the path to pursue Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA). Inspired by a veterinary education has been unique. not only the tenacious spirit of the animals Winkleman served in the U.S. Army from she encountered in Bahrain, but also by the 2001 through 2007, with several tours of sheer number of animals in need of care, duty in Iraq. During her time in the service, and by the hardworking, but limited staff and she learned about the importance of animals resources, Winkleman is hoping to establish a as companions. Her own memory of that collaborative scholarship, between the UGA companionship, as she endured the hot, humid CVM and BSPCA, that will help send other conditions while posted on guard, never students to assist with the care of animals left her. Upon returning home, Winkleman in Bahrain. Formerly a photographer with adopted several dogs, fostered others, and the Augusta (Ga.) Metro Spirit newspaper, ultimately, recognizing her love of animals to Winkleman strapped on her camera to be strong, decided to become a veterinarian. document her journey. What follows is her In Summer 2012, Winkleman traveled back personal story of the experience, documented to the Middle East to do an externship with both by personal essay and photographs.

17 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine ever have so few of veterinary program in the done so much with country, did not deter me. I so“N little.” I remember those emailed, and emailed, and words being spoken to me, emailed, and asked friends and my two fellow linguists who were in the country to in my unit in Baghdad, in go check out the Bahrain February of 2005. We were Society for the Prevention of about to leave, and the Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA). brigade commander came to And, I kept emailing until I thank us personally for our had secured the permission efforts. of the BSPCA to let me travel Moments like that stay with to Bahrain for my entire 12- you, and they snowball. In my week summer vacation and case, it gave me an incredible work with their veterinarian. amount of confidence in the It was a brutally hot difference that one person summer, habitually reaching (or three) can make. I had above 120 degrees in the a notion that if I believed afternoons. Air conditioning enough in what I was doing brought the temperature in and was willing to work the office or the surgery suite hard enough, that nothing down to a balmy 98 degrees was impossible. So last year, most days. While I was there, when I decided that I wanted I got to work with more than to go to a Middle Eastern 500 animals, mostly dogs and country for an externship, cats, which were brought into and chose Bahrain, the fact the shelter by people from all that there was no externship over the island. I wish I could program, nor even any kind tell all 500 stories, because

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 18 StudentNews

every single animal that I saw over the summer meant Bahrain comes back to the States. something to me, and felt important. Budge is one of the more than 2,000 animals that go I will tell you about Budge, a gorgeous white and through the BSPCA every year. The organization has gray longhaired, smash-faced beauty of a cat with no government funding, is almost entirely volunteer- huge paws. He came onto my radar because he had a run, and yet, somehow, manages to make a difference. persistent cough, and being the student veterinarian, Now they have a Trap-Neuter-Release Program, I got the opportunity to do the treatments because neutering more than 50 animals a week in an effort to the BSPCA did not have any veterinary technicians bring the island’s stray population of more than 20,000 to assist the sole veterinarian. While Budge didn’t under control humanely. They are an organization that particularly enjoy having oral medicines every day, he works with the local population and culture. Through was a very sweet cat, and I came to look forward to persistence, and an incredible amount of confidence giving him his treatments. But his cough didn’t get any in the impact that a small group of people can have, better. they are making a difference. For the past summer, I Hansel Geo Thomas, 26, a young Indian native was a part of that effort. to Bahrain, has a lot on his plate. He is the sole I learned a lot of the things that no one tells veterinarian at the BSPCA. The country’s Trap-Neuter- you about being a veterinarian. I learned about Release Program is his brainchild, but it is also going understanding the difference between what could be to give him more work than he has time for, and his done in a perfect world and what can be done with wife just gave birth to their first son. So when I asked the available resources and supplies. I learned about him about Budge’s persistent cough, he wasn’t terribly myself, all over again, from a new and different angle. I optimistic. He said it was most likely hypertrophic learned about what it truly means to have people look cardiomyopathy, a condition that would render Budge at you for the answer, trusting that you know it simply unadoptable. because you’re “the vet.” This nebulous concept of Between the two of us, we had so much work to do “veterinarianhood” that we all think about as students that it took about two weeks for us to find the time is an awful lot more solid and real for me now, and to ultrasound Budge’s heart. In that time, I had taken that is due to my time at the BSPCA. to spending a little bit of time with Budge every day, I don’t want to keep that experience to myself. So and was charmed by a cat who literally hugged me I have decided to start a scholarship to send other when I picked him up, and seemed happiest when he students to Bahrain, students that might otherwise was in my arms. He purred like a broken lawnmower. not be able to have the kind of experience that I But sure enough, when we gave him an ultrasound, did. I want to do this because I know the difference Budge’s heart was too big. He was unadoptable, and that one person can have over the summer, and the that was surely a death sentence for the poor cat. difference that the BSPCA can make in a person over I’m pretty sure you all know what’s coming next. the summer. I want other people to believe in the kind And you’re right: I couldn’t stand the thought of of difference that we can make as veterinarians. These this cat being put to sleep. So, I took him home. The are the few people who do so much with so little, day running joke at the BSPCA is that Budge’s heart is so in and day out. And I would love, more than anything, big because he loves so much more than other cats. for my fellow students to know what it feels like to be Whatever it is, I know that Budge loves mango yogurt one of those few. and Pringles, long naps and cuddling, and he will travel to the U.S. in early 2013, when my friend in

19 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine 1 2

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Clockwise from top left:1. Budge and me at the shelter. This is the famous Budge-hug, and is one of the many reasons I ended up adopting him. Photo courtesy of Clint Smith. 2. This handsome little guy is Chocco, a feisty kitten who spent most of his time playing in the shelter. Had I the ability, I probably would have taken home every animal at the shelter, but this guy was pretty special, and I considered taking him home more than once. 3. Saying goodbye to Hope, a sweet pit mix who came in with an impacted collar and stayed because she was pregnant. Her daughters Joy and Grace were adopted shortly after I left. Photo courtesy of Clint Smith.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 20 StudentNews 4 5

Clockwise from top left: 4. The Grand Mosque. To go 7 inside, women are required to wear the burka and hijab, and non-Muslims are not allowed in on Fridays. On Fridays, it is very typical to see the right lane of the highway outside the mosque lined with parked cars. The tall towers are the minarets, where traditionally the muezzin would sing the call to prayer. Now, the call is recorded and sounded with a speaker system. 5. Children playing soccer in a closed- off street near the apartment where I stayed. The street is closed off because it doesn’t go anywhere yet. 6. Her name is Lunar. Often when things got overwhelming, I would go down to the cat house and hang out, and Lunar was one of those animals that was so chill and sweet, she made you feel better. And, of course, those eyes. 7. Hansel Geo Thomas, the veterinarian who worked with me all summer. Despite the difficulties inherent in being a shelter vet, he is always cheerful. Here he was watching the puppies stumble into the air-conditioned space–an absolute necessity for about four hours in the middle of the 120+ degree days. 6

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6 Clockwise from top left: 8. Toward the end of my stay, I got the genius idea to name the animals that came in after people in my class. This particular guy was named Perry, after one of my classmates, and he simply loved the camera. I fell in love with his ears, and nicknamed him Stitch after my favorite Disney character. German Shepherds and Huskies are probably the most popular dog breeds in Bahrain–and both breeds are cold-adapted and not particularly suited for the hot summer weather. Perry seemed to be mixed with the more ubiquitous “desert dog”–a tall, skinny, gangly sight hound mix that made Perry’s ears sort of comical and smile-inducing. 9. One of Bahrain’s most famous buildings, called the “Sail Building” by the local expats. There are two connected buildings with windmills in the center. The whole country is a study of contrasts–old and new, giant, modern buildings and lean-tos, paved roads and open desert that you can drive through. 10. One of the workers at the shelter on his way to let the puppies into the air conditioning. The daily transfer of the dogs from the exterior viewing runs into the air conditioning was called “The Running of the Dogs,” and usually went like clockwork–except for the puppies. They had to be shown where to go, and, occasionally, carried. But within two weeks, they’d be running with the others, making life much easier for all.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 22 StudentNews

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23 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine 11

Clockwise from top: 11. The Hidd Bridge is one of the main roads and connects the two sides of the bay–while also providing fishing, great views, and easy access to Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park, the newest park built in honor of the Crown Prince. The day before this, I saw dolphins–which, of course, never happened again while I had a camera in my hand. 12. Miss Tootsie–obviously–is gorgeous. One of the strange things I noticed in Bahrain is that calico cats are not particularly popular; more popular is the Persian (which they call Shirazi). Tootsie was so sweet to me and was so patient–when I would go to the cat house, she would wait her turn quietly, but the second I got to her house, she would come straight up to me and instantly crawl into my arms. 13. Morgan (and her friend Annabelle, not pictured here) were brought into the shelter together. Morgan was protective of Annabelle, who was in worse shape than her, but both were emaciated and had obviously been through a lot. Despite that, both were gentle giants who loved to snuggle and play, and quickly won over our hearts. Also, Morgan looked a lot like Hooch, from the 1989 movie Turner and Hooch with Tom Hanks, and just made me smile. 14. A group of Bahraini men at the Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park. In Bahrain, it is pretty typical to see just groups of men, or just groups of women, out in public. Despite its population of expats, Bahrain tends to be more traditionally Islamic.

13 12 For More Information

If you would like to help Taylor “Eve” Winkleman make this scholarship a reality, contact her at [email protected]

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 24 StudentNews

Alec Davern (DVM ’13) was one of eight veterinary Barbara Shock, a doctoral candidate based in the students nationwide awarded a $2,500 scholarship SCWDS, was the 2012 winner of the Shikar Safari from the American Association of Equine Club Foundation Scholarship. Shock was also the Practitioners Foundation and the insurance company 2012 winner of the Wildlife Disease Association Markel Corp. Graduate Student Scholarship.

Elizabeth Gleim, a doctoral candidate based in Kerrie Anne Loyd, a master’s degree student the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease mentored by Dr. Sonia Hernandez (who is jointly Study (SCWDS), was selected as the 2012 Byrd- appointed to SCWDS and Warnell), was the 2012 Dunn Award winner at the annual meeting of the recipient of the E.L. Cheatum Award, presented by Southeastern Society of Parasitologists for her talk on the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural the impact of imported red fire ants on the survival of Resources. two common tick species in Georgia.

THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA® College of Veterinary Medicine

25 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Student Ambassadors 2012-2013

CVM student ambassadors serve as representatives of the College’s student body and assist with recruitment, outreach and college-related activities to enhance the public image of the College, its students and its programs. Selected annually, ambassadors must attend training sessions on public speaking, the College’s strategic plan and etiquette to prepare for their role as representatives of the CVM. CVM ambassadors are chosen for their strong leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, and sense of school spirit and pride. CVM ambassadors are available to speak on topics related to student recruitment, veterinary medicine and veterinary-related issues.

THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA® College of Veterinary Medicine

Photo by Chrstopher B. Herron

Back row, from left to right: Wade Won (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; Scott Kelly (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Brad Angel (DVM ’15), Zoo Med; Wade Edwards (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; William Frederick Marscher IV (DVM ’15), Small Animal. 4th row, left to right: Zack Moore (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Heidi Morton (DVM ’15), Zoo Med; Alyson Frederick (DVM ’15), Mixed Animal; Brittany Paschal (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Deanna Veal (DVM ’15), Food Animal; Robert Holly (DVM ’14), Small Animal. 3rd row, left to right:Kirstin Ruffner (DVM ’14), Food Animal; Luke Rogers (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; John Gagnepain (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; Megan Harris (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Jennifer James (DVM ’15), Small Animal. 2nd row, left to right:Alan Power (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; Naeemah Johnson (DVM ’15), Food Animal; Ann Rychlicki (DVM ’14), Small Animal; Brittany Murphy (DVM ’15), Equine; Marion Floyd (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Christopher Perry (DVM ’15), Mixed Animal. 1st row, left to right: Katelyn Ellis (DVM ’15), Equine; Step Bond (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal; Jenna Shafer (DVM ’14), Small Animal; Raley White (DVM ’15), Small Animal; Matt Sullivan (DVM ’14), Mixed Animal. Not pictured: Kristen Hamsley (DVM ’15), Small Ani- mal; Lydia Young (DVM ’14), Population Health.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 26 StudentNews Winners from the 2012 Science of Veterinary Medicine Symposium

Photo by Chrstopher B. Herron Back row, from left to right: Keynote speaker Dennis O’Brien; Vijay Durairaj, graduate student in population health; Dr. Harry W. Dickerson, associate dean for research and graduate affairs; Dr. Scott Brown, professor of veterinary medicine and program coordinator; Paul Oesterle, graduate student in the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. 3rd row, from left to right: Erin Edwards (DVM ’14); Jennifer Willingham-Lane, graduate student in infectious diseases; Julie Rushmore, graduate student in ecology; Xin Li, graduate student in infectious diseases; Jordan Scherk, DVM, resident in emergency and critical care medicine. 2nd row, from left to right: Jenny Munhofen (DVM ’16, MS ’12), graduate student in veterinary and biomedical sciences; Kristen Hamsley (DVM ’15); Amie Goedeke (DVM ’15); Tracy Sturgil, graduate student in large animal medicine; Lisa Fultz, resident in large animal medicine. 1st row, from left to right: Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott, DVM, graduate student in pathology; Jennifer Mu- maw, PhD (DVM’16); Saritha Krishna Lalitha Kumari, graduate student in physiology and pharmacology; Rebecca Regan, DVM, resident in oncology; Christina Varian, graduate student in pathology; Monique Franca, graduate student in pathology. This event is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at UGA. Only CVM winners are represented here.

The UGA CVM held its annual Science of Veterinary Medicine Symposium on Oct. 11, 2012. The symposium featured a keynote address from Dr. Dennis O’Brien, a professor of veterinary neurology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. O’Brien’s lecture was entitled “Fireflies in the Brain: Comparative Studies of Hereditary Neurologic Diseases.” His work in neuroscience recently garnered him the Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Other speakers included: Sonia Altizer, an associate dean of faculty affairs for the UGA Odum School of Ecology and an associate professor, discussed animal migrations and associated risks of infectious diseases; Dr. Sonia Hernandez, an assistant professor of wildlife disease jointly appointed to the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at UGA CVM, discussed her videographic studies of feline behavior; Maria Viveiros, an assistant professor of pharmacology at the CVM, discussed the use of stem cells in medicine and research; and Dr. Steve Budsberg, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the CVM, discussed recent advances in our understanding of pain management. The event was supported by donations from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Iams, Pfizer and Novartis.

27 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Highlights from 2012 Honors and Awards Banquet

Danielle Pollio (DVM ’12) received the highest scholastic average for the entire four Dean Emeritus Thomas J. Jones Cup ($1,000). years spent at the CVM. The award is presented to an outstanding fourth- year student selected on the basis of personality, Shana Gross (DVM ’12) was awarded professional proficiency, and scholastic the 2012 Veterinarian-of-the-Year Award. achievement. Sponsored by the Auxilliary to the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the $1000 Catherine Ray (DVM ’12) was awarded scholarship is presented to a senior student who the Faculty Scholastic Plaque and Clifford has demonstrated professionalism, commitment, E. Westerfield Award ($1,000). The award is and scholastic excellence. presented to a fourth-year student with the

Graduate Studies Earn your:

MS and PhD in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences If you want a career in translational or clinical research.

DVM-MPH If, as a veterinarian, you want to address public health issues in environmental health, infectious diseases, global health, biosecurity, epidemiology and/or health policy.

DVM-PhD If you want a career that will integrate clinical knowledge in comparative medicine to address questions in applied or basic research.

Master’s in Avian Medicine or Food Animal Health and Management If you’re a veterinarian looking for advanced training in poultry or food animal medicine. [email protected] 706.542.5752 www.vet.uga.edu/research/students StudentNews

A Pathway to Research Morris Animal Scholar’s research seeks canine diagnostic screening By Jessica Luton

Photo by Sue Myers Smith or third-year veterinary student Erica Noland (DVM They first looked for protein markers involved in F’14), the last two summers have not been spent relaxing chromosome instability in canine mammary cancer alongside a sandy beach or by the pool. Instead, she spent cells, she said, and using a DNA repair pathway protein her time in the laboratory doing her part to contribute to from this preliminary study, they are now developing a and learn from two unique opportunities to dip her toes screening test for drug therapy. into the field of research. “It just kind of developed from there,” she said. “We Always an animal lover, with an interest in both human were excited by the results and saw the potential there for and animal medicine, she landed at UGA’s College of clinical use. A diagnostic screening protocol to determine Veterinary Medicine following completion of her master’s whether canine patients would be responsive to a pathway- degree, at the nearby Georgia Institute of Technology, in specific therapeutic approach would aid clinicians in their molecular and cell biology. treatment and management of the disease. Our biomarkers As a 2011 Georgia Veterinary Scholar, and as a 2012 may also be able to detect early neoplastic change.” recipient of the prestigious Morris Animal Scholar award, Her initial research results in 2011 were very promising, Noland worked alongside Rabindranath De La Fuente, she said, and so she decided to submit her proposal to an DVM, MSc, PhD, an associate professor of physiology internal review committee at the UGA CVM, as only one and pharmacology. Under his mentorship, she sought proposal from each CVM may be submitted to the Morris to progress the field of veterinary oncology, with hopes Animal Foundation, per 2012 guidelines for submissions. that one day her research will benefit canine patients and Her proposal was then selected by the Morris Animal potentially lend to the advancement of human health. Foundation for funding. Prognosis of malignant mammary cancer is dependent Noland is not the first to venture toward research at upon a number of factors, but in general early detection UGA thanks to the prestigious Morris Animal Scholarship. and treatment are key to a favorable outcome. In 2010, Mason Savage (DVM ’11) had an opportunity to 29 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine participate in research through the program as well. Now, Doing research during the summer means that these he’s a diagnostic imaging resident at North Carolina State projects require a fast pace, which makes the work both University, something he attributes to his researching fun and challenging, he said. Noland hit the ground opportunities at the UGA CVM. running with several techniques, and ended up with a Savage teamed up with research mentor Scott set of data that is now being polished up and prepped for Schatzberg, DVM, PhD, a former associate professor of future publishable work. neurology, for some extra research experience during his “It’s rewarding to have a set of data at the end of the fourth year at the project period that’s in good UGA CVM. Along shape for an abstract,” he said. the way, Schatzberg “Eventually, what we intend recommended that to do is publish a full research Savage and another p ap e r.” student, Dan Regan The work is important for (DVM ’11), submit many reasons, but namely a joint proposal for because in veterinary some research they’d oncology there’s a real need to been conducting. understand very basic biological Their project looked mechanisms, knowledge that will at canine degenerate provide value in basic research myelopathy, a disease in other species and potentially similar to amyotrophic be directly applicable to human lateral sclerosis (ALS; oncology. often known in the For Noland, the opportunity to United States as Lou work with a wonderful research Gehrig’s disease) mentor and venture into the in humans. They field of veterinary research for focused on creating the first time has been not only a molecular test that exciting and fun, but has also could be applied opened up the possibility of toward dogs with the research as a potential career disease to see if any option in the future. underlying infectious Currently Noland is tying agents existed, and if up loose ends with the project, so, if there was any making sure that the markers are correlation between reproducible in the cell lines, and the infectious agents Erica Noland shows off her work in the lab. Photo by Sue Myers Smith honing in on a new technique in dogs with the disease to quantify protein expression at and in dogs without it. the single-cell level. “What we were really looking to do was see if there was Eventually, a bigger goal of the project will be turning it any infection going on in these patients that we could into a global epigenetic analysis, she said. treat,” he said. The preliminary results of her work have already been Having mentors along the way has helped Noland, too. presented at the Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program Noland would like to thank Claudia Baumann, PhD, a Research Day in July 2011, the Merial/NIH National research associate in the De La Fuente lab, for teaching Veterinary Scholars Symposium in Orlando, Fla., in her the necessary skills to function independently in the August 2011, and the Science of Veterinary Medicine lab, as well as for all her guidance and help with data Symposium at UGA in October 2011. All were great interpretation. Noland also would like to thank her official opportunities to network, show others what the team has mentor, De La Fuente, for his encouragement. In fact, it been doing in the lab, and to see what others are working was De La Fuente who suggested Noland apply for the on in the field, Noland said. Morris Animal Foundation scholarship. After her time at the UGA CVM, Noland says the “It’s a very prestigious award and it’s also a unique window of opportunity is wide open for what the future opportunity for veterinary students to get supported to do may hold. She’s interested in a career in laboratory animal basic research,” he noted. medicine and also has a strong interest in pathology.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 30 StudentNews CVM Welcomes Class of 2016

Photo by Sue Myers Smith

The UGA CVM welcomed the Class of 2016 during its annual White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 12, 2012. Sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the event officially recognized 102 members of the incoming class by donning them with lab coats to be worn during their veterinary education. The hour-long ceremony was held in Mahler Hall at the UGA Hotel and Conference Center at the Georgia Center. After the ceremony, Dr. Spencer Tally Jr., who at the time was president of the GVMA, led the two-block recessional of coated students to the veterinary college for a class photo, followed by a reception with the students’ families and members of the College’s faculty and staff. The incoming class is made up of 79 women and 23 men. The class features a wide variety of interests: 58 percent are interested in companion animal medicine; 11 percent in mixed-animal medicine; 11 percent in zoo animal and wildlife medicine; 6 percent in food animal medicine; 5 percent in public health; 5 percent in equine medicine and 4 percent in research. “The white coat is the symbol of medical professionalism,” said Dr. K. Paige Carmichael, the College’s associate dean for academic affairs. “This ceremony, where our first-year students are coated and hear the Veterinarian’s Oath for the first time, reminds them that they are beginning their education in one of the most respected medical professions.”

31 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Omega Tau Sigma’s Eta Chapter to host Grand Council 2013 Omega Tau Sigma’s Eta support of our alumni,” said Griner, who noted that chapter, which calls the as many as 250 visitors may attend the event. (Eta UGA CVM “home,” will chapter has about 120 current members.) be welcoming members Eta chapter alumni can help in a variety of ways, from veterinary schools including: monetary donations; lending tables, chairs throughout North America and other items that can be used for small meetings as the chapter hosts Grand held at the fraternity house; assistance with food, Council 2013 this November. beverages and other items for catered events held at Grand Council is the annual the OTS house. The chapter’s leadership also hopes meeting of OTS’s national to see a good turnout of Eta alumni. chapters and alumni OTS’s Eta members have made many leadership. improvements to the fraternity house in the past Eta chapter’s members have year, including rebuilding the upper deck, staining already begun conducting both decks, and replacing flooring in the upstairs fundraisers to support the southern-themed common room. weekend, tentatively slated for Nov. 15-18. Members of the fraternity and the Grand Council Thomas Griner, chapter president, Alyson committee are looking forward to creating a Frederick, treasurer, and Grand Council committee memorable and wonderful Grand Council 2013 co-chairs Elyse Paske and Eve Winkleman, attended experience for everyone who attends. the most recent Grand Council, hosted by Gamma chapter at The Ohio State University. They returned For More Information with a greater sense of camaraderie and a plenitude of ideas, which they, along with the other members Thomas Griner of the executive and Grand Council committees, President, OTS Eta Chapter have been busily working on, while also juggling [email protected] rigorous class schedules. www.otseta.org “One of the biggest lessons we learned from Ohio www.vet.uga.edu/student_clubs/ots.home is that we won’t be able to pull this off without the Get your own AnAtomic Dog! If you’ve visited our student lobby recently, you’ve probably noticed our “AnAtomic Dog” — a colorful, more-than-life-sized bulldog that was presented to the College as a gift from the Class of 2009. Now you can have your very own, scaled-down version. Omega Tau Sigma is selling miniature versions of the AnAtomic Dog to raise money for the fraternity. A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Veterinary Medicine Hospital Building Fund. Like the original, the miniature was designed by Athens artist John Ahee. Each AnAtomic Dog statuette costs $30, plus shipping and handling. Prior to mailing your in your order, please contact Dr. Doris Miller for shipping and handling costs: [email protected] or 706.542.5915. Checks should be made payable to Omega Tau Sigma. Please include a note containing your name, shipping address, phone number, and email address. Mail your payment and contact/shipping information to:

OTS Alumni Treasurer 205 Burnett St. Athens, GA 30605 FacultyNews

Mark Jackwood, PhD, who heads the CVM’s Bridget Garner, DVM, PhD, DACVP, and department of population health, has been selected Maria Viveiros, PhD, assistant professors in the as a Distinguished Alumnus Award winner by the departments of pathology, and physiology and University of Delaware College of Agriculture and pharmacology, respectively, have been selected as Lilly Natural Resources. Teaching Fellows. Each spring, UGA selects up to 10 new faculty members to participate in this two-year Dr. Keith Harris, who heads the CVM’s department program. of pathology, received the 2012 Presidential Award from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Maria M. Viveiros, PhD, received $445,500 from (ACVP) for his outstanding service to ACVP. The the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop award was presented to him by Dr. Claire Andreasen a unique mouse model to assess the underlying (MS ’87, PhD ’90), president of ACVP. mechanisms of meiotic spindle formation in oocytes, or egg cells. Viveiros will determine whether these mechanisms are disrupted with increasing maternal age, leading to chromosome segregation errors and aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy in developing embryos is the leading genetic cause of congenital birth defects and pregnancy loss in women.

Dr. Andy Parks, who heads the department of large animal medicine, has been selected as a Senior Teaching Fellow for 2012-2013. Each year, UGA selects up to eight senior faculty members to participate in this program.

Dr. Karen Cornell, a professor of small animal Dr. Claire Andreasen, left with Dr. Keith Harris. Photo courtesy of the surgery, was selected as a participant in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Administrative Leadership Development Program for Drs. Andrew Moorhead, Ray Kaplan and Michael the 2012-2013 academic year. Dzimianski, from the department of infectious diseases, received $312,260 from the National Dr. Susan Sanchez, a professor in the departments of Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide Brugia malayi population health and infectious diseases, has been adult worms and infective larvae to researchers at the appointed Director of Educational Programs at the NIH. Georgia BioBusiness Center (GBBC) and Assistant Director & Chair of the new division of One Health at Dr. Gregg Rapoport, assistant professor of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute (BHSI). cardiology, and Dr. Justin Thomason, a third-year resident in cardiology, received $7,000 from the Dr. Danny Mead, an associate professor of population American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine health, has been named the new science director of to assess the effectiveness of a delayed-release the Animal Health Research Center (AHRC). He formulation of procainamide to improve treatment of will join the AHRC management team to oversee dogs with heart disease. BSL3, ABSL3, and BSL3Ag studies in the facility.

33 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Mead’s previous extensive experience in the AHRC Festival, held in Washington, D.C. Lee manned a and Plum Island provides a solid foundation for his booth sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate service to the College in this new role. Admissions, the Graduate School, the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute (BHSI), and the CVM’s Faculty awards from the 2012 Honors and department of population health. The experience gave Awards Celebration: her an opportunity to meet high school students, many of whom were already enrolling in college courses for Note: Faculty Recognition Awards are selected by the Advanced Placement credit. Lee discussed research entire class, and given to the faculty member deemed career opportunities, and provided information on UGA by the class to have made the greatest contribution to its admissions, and the new Master of Biomanufacturing education during that academic year. and Bioprocessing degree offered by the BHSI. (biomanufacturing.uga.edu/). The festival also featured Dr. Cherie Roberts (DVM ’82), a senior lecturer from technology demonstrations, contests, performances by the department of veterinary biosciences and diagnostic television personalities, athletes and comedians, and over imaging, received the Faculty Recognition Award from 3,000 exhibits. the Class of 2015.

Dr. Kate Myrna, an assistant professor of ophthalmology, New Faculty received the Faculty Recognition Award from the Class of 2014. Holly Brown, Lecturer, Pathology

Dr. Marc Kent, an associate professor of neurology, Kevin Clarke, Clinical Associate Professor, Small received the Faculty Recognition Award from the Class of Animal Medicine and Surgery 2013. Brenton Credille, Assistant Professor, Beef Ira Roth (DVM ’86), a clinical assistant professor Production Medicine and director of the UGA Community Practice Clinic, received the Faculty Recognition Award from the Class Allison Haley, Assistant Professor, Small Animal of 2012. Roth was also awarded the Pfizer Distinguished Medicine and Surgery Teacher Award, the top teaching award for all veterinary professors at all veterinary colleges. The award is given Roberto Palomares, Assistant Professor, Beef to a teaching member of the faculty selected on the basis Production Medicine of character, leadership, and teaching ability as judged by the responsiveness of his/her students. The award is Wing Yee Louisa Poon, Clinical Assistant sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. Professor, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

Emmanuel Rollin Clinical Assistant Professor, Lee represents CVM at USA Science and Dairy Production Medicine Engineering Festival Scott Secrest, Assistant Professor, Veterinary Dr. Margie Lee, professor of population health and Biosciences & Diagnostic Imaging infectious diseases, joined other UGA faculty and graduate students who volunteered to represent the Kurt Selberg, Assistant Professor, Veterinary University at the 2012 USA Science and Engineering Biosciences & Diagnostic Imaging

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 34 FacultyNews

Jackwood, Edwards appointed to New model explains differences in endowed professorships Lyme disease patterns

The CVM has appointed two long-term faculty Andrew W. Park, an assistant professor jointly members, both of whom head departments within the appointed to the UGA Odum School of Ecology and College, to endowed professorships. the College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of Mark W. Jackwood, who heads the College’s department infectious diseases, co-authored a study with two of population health, was named the first John R. Glisson graduate students that sheds new light on the puzzling Professor of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Gaylen L. Edwards, disparity in Lyme disease patterns. who heads the College’s department of physiology In the United States, most human cases of the tick- and pharmacology, received the first Georgia Athletic borne disease occur in the Northeast, with a smaller Association Professorship in Veterinary Medicine, cluster in the Midwest, despite data showing that endowed by the UGA Athletic Association. bacteria causing the disease are equally common in Jackwood is a molecular virologist known for his work ticks in both regions. Using information about the in avian diseases. He joined the College in 1989, after behavior of Lyme disease, and ecological data about earning his MS degree at the University of Delaware, and ticks, researchers found that the timing of the tick his PhD in the department of poultry science at The Ohio lifecycle plays an important role in determining which State University. type of Lyme disease will thrive in an area, and how Edwards’ research focuses on how hindbrain controls severe the disease outbreaks tend to be. of food and fluid intake behavior relay messages to the James Haven, a postdoctoral associate in the Odum forebrain, and how defects in processing this information School, was the lead author on the study. Krisztian may contribute to the pathophysiology of various diseases. Magori, a former postdoctoral associate in the Odum He joined the College in 1989 after earning his MS from School who is now at Auburn University’s School of the University of Idaho, and his DVM and PhD degrees Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, also participated in the from Washington State University. research. The study was published in the August 2012 “These endowed professorships will allow the issue of the journal Epidemics. Research funding was department heads to have some funding every year provided by the James S. McDonnell Foundation. for their own research programs, and for supporting departmental needs,” said Sheila W. Allen, dean of the College. “We are grateful to the donors who honored Dr. For More Information John Glisson with this endowment, and to the Athletic http://tinyurl.com/aj2hfxk Association for their support of the College.”

Cornell CVM honors retired professor for distinguished service Dr. Jeanne Barsanti, a professor During her 30-year career as a professor, emeritus who retired as head of the CVM’s clinician, and scientist, Dr. Barsanti won department of Small Animal Medicine numerous teaching awards, and gained a and Surgery in 2004, was recognized with reputation as a leader in the movement the 2012 Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for to bring technology into the classroom. Distinguished Alumni Service. The award is Additionally, she is known internationally given annually by the Alumni Association for her expertise in urologic disorders, and of the College of Veterinary Medicine at played a major role in the creation of the Cornell University. generalist and specialist tracks within the The award honors Cornell University American College of Veterinary Internal College of Veterinary Medicine graduates Medicine’s (ACVIM) forum when she who have distinguished themselves held various leadership positions within Barsanti in service to the profession, their ACVIM. communities, or to the college.

35 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA® Veterinary Teaching Hospital

“Through my surgeries and being hospitalized for three weeks, my humans, doctors, nurses, and students never gave up. I didn’t either.” -Rascal Mazzola, patient, 2012 Photograph taken by Carmen Story

Emergency care, when you need us most. 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, 365 Days a Year Serving dogs, cats, horses and all animal species. No referral required for emergencies. 706.542.3221 www.vet.uga.edu/hospital Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 38 FacultyNews

CVM professor developing new vaccine to fight resurging mumps virus By James Hataway

Mumps may seem like a disease of a bygone era to many people in the United States who, thanks to immunization programs, have been spared the fever, aches and characteristic swollen jawline of the once common viral infection. Biao He, PhD, a professor of infectious diseases and a Georgia Research Alliance distinguished investigator in the College of Veterinary Medicine, worries that a new strain of the virus is spreading, and it could lead to the widespread reintroduction of mumps. Now, thanks in part a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, He and his team are working on a new vaccine to stop it. Although not typically a life-threatening disease, mumps can lead to serious health problems such as viral meningitis, hearing loss and pancreatitis; it can also cause

miscarriage during early pregnancy. He Vaccinations diminished the number Even more troubling is that most of the of cases dramatically, and at one point people who contracted mumps during the it appeared that the U.S. was on pace to 2006 and 2010 outbreaks had received the eradicate the disease. But two large outbreaks recommended two-dose vaccination in their of the virus in 2006 and 2010 involving early childhood, meaning that the virus thousands of confirmed cases in the Midwest was spreading even among the vaccinated and Northeast put the hope of eradication population. on hold. He is concerned that the current “The question is: With this new genotype vaccine, which has been in use since 1967, virus emerging in the vaccinated population, may be showing signs of weakness. what do you do about it?” He said. “The virus is always evolving and mutating, Some have suggested administering a third and new viruses will emerge,” He said. “It’s Jeryl Lynn vaccine to boost immunity later in only a matter of time until the old vaccine we life, but it is unclear if that approach would have doesn’t work.” be successful. He suggests that modern The current vaccine is commonly called scientific techniques have made the creation the Jeryl Lynn strain and is named after the of some vaccines much easier, so producing daughter of inventor Maurice Hilleman. It is a new mumps vaccine may be the most based on a specific genotype of the mumps effective method of controlling the emerging virus called genotype A. However, the 2006 threat. and 2010 mumps outbreaks were caused by “In the past few years, we have taken another strain, genotype G.

37 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine advantage of genetic engineering, and my lab reliable method to create vaccines for genotype G, is particularly good at engineering viruses,” He they can apply that knowledge to rapidly produce said. “We can take a virus, look at its genetic vaccines for the other 12 mumps genotypes sequence, take bits and pieces away and generate currently circulating in populations throughout a new virus with less virulence that will work as a the world. vaccine.” Health professionals were able to contain the outbreaks of 2006 and 2010, but He thinks that “The No. 1 issue for us in making the large global population and ease with which a pediatric vaccine is safety,” He people move from one location to another make humankind vulnerable to rapid disease spread. said. “So far our testing suggests “It’s almost like a small fire; if it stays small, we we are on the right track.” can put it out,” He said. “But if conditions are right, and the wind begins to blow, the fire can Before the advent of genetic engineering, the take over.” process of creating a vaccine could be intensely Research reported in this publication was laborious, as researchers would have to pass the supported by the National Institutes of Health virus through many generations of reproduction under award number 1R01AI097368-01A1. until they found a naturally occurring weakened virus. This process can take long periods of time, and there is little guarantee that the weakened virus will work as a vaccine. Genetic engineering allows He’s lab to produce an effective and safe vaccine much more quickly. Vaccine safety became a topic of much discussion after British medical researcher Andrew Wakefield suggested that there was a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. However, his claims were found to be fraudulent, and Wakefield was barred from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom. Much of the fallout from the Wakefield case remains, and some people are still hesitant to have their children vaccinated, but He is insistent that administering vaccines to children is the safe and responsible thing to do. “The No. 1 issue for us in making a pediatric vaccine is safety,” He said. “So far our testing suggests we are on the right track.” Once He and his laboratory have devised a safe, Mumps cells. Photo provided by Biao He.

Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 38 College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association Greetings from your Alumni Association!

Members of the Executive Board

Flynn Nance (DVM ’83) ello fellow Alumni! [email protected] President This March will mark the 50th anniversary of the UGA CVM’s Annual Veterinary Michael Topper (DVM ’80) HConference & Alumni Weekend. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to [email protected] return to Athens to visit the College, and reconnect with classmates and friends. Immediate Past President The event will be March 22-23, and will be held at The Classic Center. Chad Schmiedt (DVM ’00) [email protected] By the time we convene for our reunion weekend, site work for the UGA President-elect Veterinary Medical Learning Center is expected to be underway.

Doris Miller (DVM ’76) [email protected] Although a tremendous amount of effort and hard work from the College’s Secretary administration and staff, along with generous donations from the CVM alumni community, have gone into the project, the work is far from complete. We must Sheila Allen continue to assist this project with financial support, so that upon its completion [email protected] the University and our alma mater will have the finest facility in the United States. Dean; Ex-officio

Thomas Hutto (DVM ’85) We are grateful to the state of Georgia, along with our generous donors, for making [email protected] this milestone possible. Although the building will be a great enhancement to our College’s future, funding for equipment and furnishings are still needed to Ginger Macaulay (DVM ’84) make this building a true state-of-the-art facility. It will be through our sustained [email protected] financial support that many of these needs will be realized over time. To make a Catherine McClelland (DVM ’83) gift for this project, please contact the CVM’s Veterinary External Affairs office at [email protected] 706.542.1807 or [email protected].

Bill Seanor (DVM ’83) It is through our persistent encouragement that our CVM will continue to thrive! [email protected] Thank you for your support. Stephen Arbitter (DVM ’96) [email protected] I look forward to seeing you in March! And, as always: GO DAWGS!

Charlie Broussard (DVM ’84) Sincerely, [email protected]

Scott Bryant (DVM ’94) [email protected] Flynn Nance Alan Herring (DVM ’85) DVM, MS [email protected] Class of 1983

Jan Sosnowski Nichol (DVM ’80) [email protected]

Jon Anderson (DVM ’03) F o l l o w t h e c v M a n d A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n ’ s c u r r e n t a c t i v i t i e s ! [email protected] www.vet.uga.edu Jamie Fleming (DVM ’05) www.facebook.com/UGACVM [email protected] twitter.com/ugavetmed UGA VCM New Graduate Forum: www.vet.uga.edu/GO/newgrads.php Rebecca Dixon (DVM ’02) [email protected]

39 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Profile: Koren Moore Custer (MPH ’11, DVM ’12) Assistant State Veterinarian/Assistant Director: West Virginia Department of Agriculture: Animal Health Division What made you choose the UGA CVM for What aspects of the program were most your educational goals? At the time that I beneficial to you? The large animal, infectious applied for veterinary school (2006-2007), there was disease, and pathology courses at UGA CVM, in a reciprocity agreement between the state of West addition to the veterinary public health courses. At Virginia and UGA CVM that (if accepted) allowed me the UGA College of Public Health, the epidemiology to pay in-state tuition rather than out-of-state. courses and policy courses were beneficial.

What kind of degree did you graduate Was there a particular professor here that with? What made you want to pursue this made a big impact on your time here? There particular degree? I graduated with both a DVM are many professors who impacted me during my time and an MPH (conferred by the UGA College of Public at UGA CVM. Drs. Mary Hondalus and Margie Lee Health). I’ve always been interested in both animal and helped guide me through the DVM/MPH program. Drs. human medicine, as well as infectious diseases. When David Reeves and Michael Overton helped me so much I discovered through the freshman orientation course in understanding livestock production; my weeks in at UGA CVM that I could work in all of those fields their clinical rotations were my favorites throughout with those degrees, I immediately knew that was the all of veterinary school. Dr. Mark Ebell was a fantastic educational course that I wanted to pursue. professor at UGA CPH – he helped me to think about public health in a whole new light. And finally, Dr. Craig What are you doing now? I am currently Greene was a wonderful teacher and mentor to me employed through the West Virginia Department of throughout all five years. Agriculture as the assistant state veterinarian and the assistant director of the department’s Animal Health What’s your favorite part of your current Division. I am involved with numerous activities, job? Although I love everything about my job, there including: disease investigation and diagnosis, producer are two aspects that are my absolute favorites. The education and outreach, import/export, fair and festival first is getting a call from a private practitioner with animal inspections, necropsy, animal disease traceability, an oddball case, and visiting the farm to conduct an aquaculture, policy and law, and various administrative epidemiological investigation and collect and work duties. up samples to try to figure out what’s going on. The second is producer education and outreach. I love How did your education here at the UGA talking with producers about their livestock and their CVM prepare you for your current position? farms and getting to know the community. I always Of course, the core classes that are part of the UGA learn something new and it’s wonderful to sometimes CVM curriculum were very important in my education. be able to teach them something in return. The elective courses were also essential, particularly those courses related to infectious disease and large animal-specific diseases. In addition to the classroom education that I received through the DVM program, the UGA CVM’s clinical coursework was immeasurably helpful in allowing me to understand veterinary medicine at the livestock production level. Being able to “talk shop” and communicate with a livestock producer is so important – I feel that the livestock production clinical rotations helped me to be able to do so.

Photo provided by Koren Moore Custer. Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 40 ClassNotes

Eugene T. Maddox (DVM ’59) received the GVMA’s James Heavner (DVM ’68) was inducted into the Fort Dobbins-Mahaffey Advocacy Hill (Md.) High School Hall of Fame. Heavner is professor Award. Maddox has emeritus and clinical professor at Texas Tech University received numerous honors Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. As a branch for his service to GVMA chief at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Heavner and the community at is known worldwide for his work in the field of pain large, including the 2006 control and the pharmacology of local anesthetics. Veterinarian of the Year award, and recognition in Timothy L. Montgomery 2010 as Legislator of the Year (DVM ’83) received the by the Georgia Firefighters 2012 Veterinarian of the Maddox Association. He is active in Year Award from GVMA. his community and multiple professional organizations, Montgomery served as including GVMA and AVMA. Maddox is retired from president of GVMA in practicing veterinary medicine, and served multiple terms 1999, and has held multiple in the Georgia House of Representatives; he is the out- leadership roles within the going representative from Georgia’s 172nd district. organization. He is owner of Dacula Animal Hospital, Jim Jarrett (DVM ’60) was and currently serves as a posthumously honored as councilman for the City of Montgomery an inductee to the Cattle Dacula, and as a member of Production Veterinarian the AVMA’s House of Delegates. Hall of Fame at the American Association Nina Marano (DVM ’84) relocated to Nairobi, Kenya, in of Bovine Practitioners June 2012 to become director of the Centers for Disease (AABP) 45th annual Control and Prevention’s Refugee Health Program conference in Montreal in in Africa. This program provides the evidence for September 2012. Jarrett development and implementation of guidelines for disease was a widely-known expert screening and treatment, tracks and reports illness in in milk quality, dairy refugee populations, responds to disease outbreaks, and nutrition, and reproductive advises partners on health care for refugees that are being Photo provided by Merck Animal Health Merck by provided Photo management. The Hall Jarrett resettled to the United of Fame is sponsored by States from Africa. the AABP, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), Bovine Veterinarian, Denise Funk (DVM ’92) Merck Animal Health and Osborn Barr. Dr. Jarrett died in was confirmed as president January 2005; he was 69. of the GVMA during its 2012 Fall Convention. James E. Strickland (DVM ’61) was awarded the GVMA’s Funk, a partner at highest recognition, the J.T. Mercer, DVM Lifetime Animal Medical Care of Achievement Award. Strickland served as both a past Gainesville, has practiced president (1991) and director of the GVMA. He has veterinary medicine for also served on numerous AVMA committees, and has more than 20 years in

held leadership positions in many other professional her native Hall County. the GVMA by provided Photo organizations. He is owner of Glennville Veterinary Clinic, She is a member of the Funk where he still works part-time, and he is a cattle producer. AVMA, and the American Association of Animal Hospitals. She is also an active volunteer in her local community.

41 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Association. Chris Griffin (DVM ’95) was recently elected president Obituaries of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians James R. Hundley (DVM ’56) Heathsville, Va., (AEMV). He served as president of the Association of May 18, 2012. V.C. Lovell (DVM ’61) Gainesville, Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) from Ga., March 22,. 2012. Harry W. Taylor (DVM 2009-2010. Dr. Griffin is the owner of and medical ’66) Tallahassee, Fla., Nov.. 9, 2012. Roderick C. director for Griffin Avian and Exotic Veterinary Hospital Jordan (DVM ’68) Harkers Island, .N.C., Oct. 20, in Kannapolis, N.C. 2012. Charles Hodges “Chuck” Manning (DVM ’73) Washington,. N.C., Sept. 22, 2012. Keith W. Adam Eichelberger (DVM ’03) has been named the Chapin (DVM ’74) West Palm Beach, Fla.,. March 2, interim director of Animal Health Programs as part 2012. Walter Glynn Griffin (DVM ’78) Waycross, of a newly-announced leadership team for Clemson Ga., June. 12, 2012. Michael M. Veitch (DVM ’78) University Livestock-Poultry Health, which oversees Lexington Park, Md.,. Sept. 18, 2012. Newton P. animal health and the quality of meat and poultry Eunice (DVM ’80) Pelham, Ga., April. 13, 2012. products produced in South Carolina. Jim Stortz (DVM ’05) Avon, Colo., June 26, 2012.. Karen Bradley (DVM ’96) is the current delegate from Frederick N. Thompson Vermont for the AVMA’s House of Delegates (HOD), and (DVM ’65), retired CVM serves as chair of the House Advisory Committee. Read faculty, died in Athens, a shout-out to Bradley on the blog Veterinary Legacy, Ga., on Dec. 16, 2012. by Dr. Donald F. Smith, professor of surgery and dean After receiving his DVM, emeritus at Cornell University College of Veterinary Thompson served in the Medicine. View the post at: http://tinyurl.com/bxucxux U.S. Army for two years at Fort Meade, Md., rising Michele Pfannenstiel (DVM ’06) has joined MaineStock to the rank of Captain. He as a managing partner to oversee food safety and product also practiced veterinary development. As part of her new duties, Pfannenstiel medicine briefly before is establishing a quality-assurance program that will Thompson pursuing doctoral studies extend from farmers to distributors. MaineStock works at Iowa State University. After receiving his PhD with farmers to raise livestock, and create safe meat that in veterinary medicine from Iowa State in 1973, can be sold at an affordable price, while maintaining the Thompson returned to the University of Georgia high standards required for certification by U.S.D.A. where he taught and conducted research in the UGA Organic and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners College of Veterinary Medicine until his retirement in 2000.

We want to know what you’re up to!

Your classmates want to know what’s happening in Email Marti Brick: Fax: your life. Drop us a line. And please include your [email protected] or OR 706.583.0242 current contact information, including your phone [email protected] number and email, to help us keep our alumni database up to date. Continuing Education Courses:

Below are our scheduled Continued Education Courses. CE dates and topics are subject to change.

Questions about CE? Contact Melissa Kilpatrick at [email protected] or 706.542.1451, or online at www.vet.uga.edu/ce

March 22-23 The 50th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend May 5 Practical Dentistry: Periodontal Therapy/Surgical Extractions June 27-28 Arthroscopy June 29-30 Advanced Laparoscopy July 26-27 Flexible GI Endoscopy July 28-29 Basic Rigid Endoscopy October 3-4 Equine Encore October 5-6 Small Animal Surgery October 19-20 Internal Medicine December 7-8 Exotic Endoscopy Outpatient Medicine December 14-15 Advanced Laparoscopy

PetMeaningful Memorials to clients, veterinarians and the College “Pet memorials have been great for our business. They help us remember clients and their pets, as well as support the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine’s goal to build a new teaching hospital. The feedback we get is priceless.” — Dr. Roy Brogdon, DVM ’73 Cleveland Veterinary Hospital Cleveland, Georgia

For more information, please contact us: Phone: 706.542.1807 E-mail: [email protected] UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Web: www.vet.uga.edu/GO/memorialCollege of Veterinary Medicine

THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Dr. Roy Brogdon, co-­‐owner of Cleveland Veterinary Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine donates regularly through our pet memorial program.

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March 22-23, 2013 The Classic Center • Athens, Georgia For more information, visit the website: www.vet.uga.edu/reunion.php or contact Melissa Kilpatrick: 706.542.1451 or [email protected] For class campaign giving, contact Marti Brick: 706.542.7049 or [email protected] Photo by Sue Myers Smith Our Goal: 2013 is groundbreaking year for VMLC $32.7 Million An estimated 600 people turned out to help celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Veterinary Medical Learning Center, held Nov. 9 in Athens. Work on the site where the CVM’s new teaching hospital and classroom facility will be $26M constructed began in October, with the dismantling of the fencing and building used as the former Snyder Barn. The fencing and barn materials will be re-purposed, as part of the UGA Material Reuse $19.5M Program. Much of the re-purposed materials are already in use at the CVM farm in Oconee County. Construction work on the site is expected to begin in February 2013. $13M The $98 million facility will be paid for by $65 million in state funding, with the balance coming from private donations. As of Dec. 31, 2012, $24.5 million had been raised in private donations, said Kathy Bangle, director of veterinary external affairs for the CVM. The external affairs staff is working $6.5M hard to raise the additional $8.5 million that is needed for equipment and furnishings.

Caption for above photo, from left: Denise Funk (DVM ’92), president of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA); G. Scott Bryant (DVM ’94), president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians; Ann Rychlicki (DVM ’14), immediate past president of the student chapter of the American For More Information Veterinary Medical Association; C. Gary Bullard (DVM ’69), a past president of the UGA Veterinary Alumni Association, and GVMA, and member of the CVM Campaign Steering Committee; Larry R. Corry (DVM ’66), past president If you would like to donate toward the of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and member of the CVM Campaign Steering Committee; Dean Sheila W. Allen; Douglas Allen project, contact our Office of Veterinary Jr., former hospital director for the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and External Affairs at 706.542.1807 or among the first to highlight UGA’s need for a new teaching hospital; Dave [email protected]. For more information Selleck (DVM ’78), chair of the CVM Campaign Steering Committee; Jack about the VMLC, or to donate online, visit Sexton (DVM ’78), member of the CVM Campaign Steering Committee; Flynn Nance (DVM ’83), current president of the UGA Veterinary Alumni Associa- vet.uga.edu/vmlc tion; Tim Montgomery (DVM ’83), a past-president of the UGA Veterinary Alumni Association and current GVMA delegate for the AVMA.

CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE | NORTH FACADE facing College Station Road Veterinary Medicine Learning Center 05.21.2012 Why I give: Katie Beacham n 2010, Atlanta resident Katie Beacham and her yellow who will make the best use of my donation. I also want to Ilab mix Asa were referred by her veterinarian to the see results and know the organization is a good steward. UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital for emergency surgery The College of Veterinary Medicine is a slam dunk–I’ve to remove Asa’s ruptured spleen. seen it in action and personally benefited.” Surgical resident Kevin Coleman, DVM, performed the Donating to the CVM was an easy way to honor and surgery on Asa, who was subsequently diagnosed with directly support the veterinary residents and students who hemangiosarcoma, an especially aggressive cancer. Asa took such great care of Asa, and served as trusted advisors was given only a few months to live. in a particularly difficult time, she said. With Coleman’s encouragement, Beacham met with “Their care was cutting edge; their bedside manner and oncology resident Rebecca Regan, DVM, to understand patience with me, and my endless questions, qualified Asa’s quality-of-life options. Beacham chose to pursue them as saints. And, they were honest, respectful and chemotherapy for Asa, and he lived a full additional two compassionate when it came time to make hard decisions,” years before his cancer returned. she said. “Now, donating to the CVM is a habit, and I will He passed away in August of 2012 at the age of 14. continue to give each year in thanks and good memories.” Donating to the UGA CVM, she said, is just one way she can repay the CVM for the quality services and compassionate care her pet received. “The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine gave me For More Information a precious gift when they saved my dog, and helped us If you would like to make a gift to the UGA College of have two more quality years together,” she said. “Donating Veterinary Medicine, contact our Office of Veterinary is a small way that I can pay it forward in expectation External Affairs at 706.542.1807 or [email protected]. that the school will also give high-quality, life-saving, compassionate care to other families as it fulfills its mission Check out Asa in our Picture Your Pet winners slideshow of training future veterinarians and researching cures for online at www.vet.uga.edu/GO/photo-contest.php animal illnesses and conditions.” Beacham has donated to the Veterinary Medicine Hospital Building Fund, which is being used toward building the new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, as she personally understands the blessing of having a renowned veterinary institution in the state. Additionally, she has donated to the Sundown Surgery Fund, which assists families with the cost of an unexpected major pet emergency. “I was blessed to have some ‘rainy day’ savings to cover Asa’s emergency and ongoing care,” she said, “and I would hate for money to have been the deciding factor in whether to save his life.” Beacham, who manages corporate philanthropy and community involvement for a large global company, likens her reasoning to give to the CVM in her personal life to the same basis of reasoning she uses to make decisions at work. “A big part of my job is to make strategic philanthropic decisions for my company, based on both social impact and business value,” she said. “I apply the same Beacham and Asa. Photo courtesy of Alecia Lauren Photography. perspective to my own giving: what causes matter to me; where can my giving make an impact on those causes; and, Aesculapian Fall 2012/Winter 2013 46

CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE | NORTH FACADE facing College Station Road Veterinary Medicine Learning Center 05.21.2012 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID ® College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, GA Athens, GA 30602-7371 Permit #11

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Dates to remember:

March 22-23 The 50th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend April 5 Annual Open House April 11 Phi Zeta Ceremony April 19 Honors and Awards Banquet May 4 CVM Graduation (ticket required) June 26-30 Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference (GVMA annual meeting) June 28 UGA Alumni Reception (GVMA annual meeting: Sandestin, Fla.) July 7-13 VetCAMP July 19-23 AVMA Annual Convention (Chicago) August 11 White Coat Ceremony September 25 Vet School for a Day Continuing Education Courses:

CE dates and topics are subject to change. Questions about CE? Contact Melissa Kilpatrick at [email protected] or 706.542.1451, or online at www.vet.uga.edu/ce

March 22-23 The 50th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend May 5 Practical Dentistry: Periodontal Therapy/Surgical Extractions June 27-28 Arthroscopy June 29-30 Advanced Laparoscopy July 26-27 Flexible GI Endoscopy July 28-29 Basic Rigid Endoscopy October 3-4 Equine Encore October 5-6 Small Animal Surgery October 19-20 Internal Medicine December 7-8 Exotic Endoscopy Outpatient Medicine December 14-15 Advanced Laparoscopy

This publication is paid for by private donations, and is available online at www.vet.uga.edu. For future mailings, if you would prefer to re- ceive our Aesculapian or Annual Report electronically, please email us at [email protected] and tell us what email address you would like us to notify when the publication goes online. Thank you for your support of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine!