TUFTSVOLUME 6, NO. 2 WINTER 2004 Landmark Philanthropy Cummings Foundation Gift Heralds a New Future for Veterinary School PLUS: ANIMALS AS SENTINELS N RECORD OF GIVING from the dean Amazing, Historic, Wonderful T UFTS VETERINARY a few weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox won the World MEDICINE Series. What has seemed impossible forever (well, for any of us younger than 86!), has been achieved. The Red Sox are vol. 6, no. 2 winter 2004 number 1. Their fans—here in Massachusetts and from Executive Editor points around the world--are elated. Dr. Philip C. Kosch, Dean Here at Tufts Veterinary School, we’re on top of the School of Veterinary Medicine world for another reason. Cummings Foundation has made an extraordinary gift to Tufts Editorial Advisor University, the largest in the history of the university and, we believe, in the history of vet- Shelley Rodman, Director Veterinary Development and Alumni Relations erinary medical education. It is our cause for celebration. Editor/Writer Tufts University started the veterinary school because it was the right thing to do—for Cynthia B. Hanson Tufts, which had, and still has, extraordinary strengths in the life sciences, and for New Art Director England which had had no operating veterinary school since the 1940s (Middlesex Margot Grisar Veterinary College operated on what is now the Brandeis University campus from 1938 to Tufts University Publications 1947; it was never accredited). Jean Mayer, a world-renowned nutritionist, championed the Graphic Designer Kelly McMurray/2communiqué establishment of the school, first mentioning the possibility in his September 1976 inaugu- ral speech as President of Tufts University. Mayer knew how much richer the university Photographer Andrew Cunningham would be, and how well positioned to understand and support all aspects of the life sciences, with a school devoted to animal health. He understood the interdependence of human, ani- Tufts Veterinary Medicine is funded in mal, and environmental health. part by the Edward Hyde Cox Fund for The road, however, hasn’t been easy. Our school operates on a unique model, receiving Publications. It is published three times a year and distributed to key university the smallest amount—both in absolute terms and as a percentage of our budget-- of public personnel, veterinary students, operating support of any accredited veterinary school in North America. It is also the only veterinarians, alumni, friends and others. one without any public capital investment. We have survived by being strategic and entre- We welcome your letters, story ideas and suggestions. Send correspondence to: preneurial, two qualities that attracted the respect and interest of Bill Cummings, who got to know intimately the financial challenges of our school serving as a member of the uni- Editor, Tufts Veterinary Medicine Tufts University School versity’s board of trustees from 1986-1996. of Veterinary Medicine Cummings Foundation’s gift will provide a total of $50 million dollars to the school over 200 Westboro Road North Grafton, MA 01536 the next fifteen years.This gift provides stability that our school has never enjoyed before. Our Telephone: 508-839-7907 Website: www.tufts.edu/vet budget will remain tight, and we will remain entrepreneurial, but we will have a bright future. Email: [email protected] To all of our alumni, friends, students and clients, let me say that this is a wonderful time to be involved with our veterinary school, which will be named Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University at a celebration this spring. The Cummings gift does not eliminate our need for your ongoing support; in fact, it makes this the best time to invest in Tufts. To Bill Cummings, his wife Joyce, his family, and the trustees of Cummings Foundation, I say THANK YOU. Your gift is as amazing, historic and wonderful as a Red Sox World Series victory! on the cover William S. Cummings, A58, president of Cummings Foundation, says he is honored to support the vision of this world-class institu- tion of higher learning. contents WINTER 2005 N VOLUME 6, NO.2 features 4 Animals as Sentinels by Cynthia B. Hanson They’re an excellent barometer for human and environmental health — our wildlife and pets COVER STORY 12 Landmark Philanthropy By Barbara Donato Vision and generosity combine to mold the school’s future departments 2 In Brief 13 Thank You COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD HOWARD in brief Waldau Appointed Director of the EQUINE VETERINARIANS Center for Animals and Public Policy ASSIST IN OLYMPIC More than any other veterinary school, Tufts has an investment GAMES in the combination of best science and best ethics. With this com- Two Tufts Veterinary School alumni provid- bination, we can ask again and again, ‘How do we best discov- ed essential support for horses at the er and then reach out to the world?’ ‘How do we best act?’ These Olympics this summer. Dr. Tim Ober, V90, questions are what the Center for Animals and Public Policy is of Virginia was the team veternarian for the good at. US dressage and equestrian show-jumping The real cutting edge thinking these days — and ethics as well teams. Dr. Fotini Emiri, V02, a veternarian — seeks to understand the broader whole in order to understand from Athens, Greece, was the Olympic yourself because you’re a piece of that broader whole. And that’s so Equine Hospital administrator and a mem- consistent with so many of the insights of compassion in veteri- ber of the surgical/anesthesia team. nary medicine. Ober describes his experience as —paul waldau “fairly intense” because of some medical assistant professor, environmental and population health issues with the horses. One horse was director, tufts center for animals and public policy injured during the jump-off for the silver medal and had to settle for the bronze. aul waldau has been named director of the Tufts Center for Animals and Public Another horse developed symptoms of Policy. An assistant professor of ethics at the veterinary school, Waldau holds a colic on the day of the veterinary Pdoctor of philosophy degree from the University of Oxford and is a former senior inspection. fellow at Harvard University’s Center for the Study of World Religions. He also has a “We had to get him better within the juris doctor degree from UCLA Law School and a master’s from Stanford University in hour of when he had to present for the religious studies. veterinary inspection. But he went on to In addition to his duties as director of the Center, he teaches two classes in the vet- be a significant factor in our team silver erinary curriculum, has written two books on the topic of religion and animals, and is medal in show jumping,” he recalls. The president of the Religion and Animals Institute. Waldau is also a principal contributor to US also won a bronze in dressage. the Great Ape World Heritage Species Project, which is seeking United Nations-level Ober’s biggest test came after the protection for gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees. Games closed. He found himself strug- gling with one horse’s case of anterior enteritis with little support because the NEW DESIGN ONLINE clinic staff had departed. “During the past By now, many of you have surfed the Tufts web- 10 years, if there was one moment I had site (www.tufts.edu) and have noticed the new to rely on my Tufts education, that was it,” design, more informative content and improved he said. “I appreciated the solid back- navigation. ground of my training,”says Ober, who A collaborative project of WebCentral, Uni- works for the US show-jumping team versity Relations and others across campus, the every year. website was reconfigured to better showcase Tufts For Emiri, the Olympics were “a magi- and its people. cal experience” in which she worked with The new site features a lead photo and feature some of the best veterinarians, riders and story on a member of the Tufts community that changes weekly. Biologist Barry Trimmer’s work on horses in the world. “Everything went a caterpillar that may inspire a new generation of robots inaugurated the new site, and the smoothly,”she recounts. veterinary school’s Dr. Mark Pokras and the wildlife clinic were featured last month. In addition to her duties at the equine On the new site, internal and external audiences are served by two distinct homepages. hospital, she was sector veterinarian for “InsideTufts” provides the latest news, events, announcements and other information for faculty, the cross-country phase of the three-day staff and students. Prospective students, alumni, parents and other external users can now find eventing and competition veterinarian information more tailored to their needs. for dressage and show jumping. Emiri “In the coming months, you can look forward to even more content, photos, tools and features continued on as equine hospital adminis- as we continue to develop a website that reflects the vibrancy and excitement of the Tufts com- trator for the Paralympic Games for the munity,”said Mary Jeka, vice president for university relations. physically handicapped. Feedback on the site is welcome. E-mail your comments and ideas to [email protected]. 2 tufts veterinary medicine winter 2004 Program Promotes Dog Sterilization/ FIRST NORTHEAST VETERINARY CONFERENCE Rabies Eradication in Nepal HELPS RAISE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR TUFTS ufts veterinary school is work- VETERINARY STUDENTS ing to establish a dog sterilization and T vaccination clinic in Chitwan, Nepal, More than 1,000 veterinarians and veterinary to help stem the growing problem of canine technicians from 35 states, Canada and the West overpopulation. Indies attended the first Northeast Veterinary Under the direction of Dr. Gretchen Conference (NEVC) in Providence, RI, from Kaufman ( J76, V86), assistant professor in August 8 to10.