Spring 2014 - Western

Western University of Health Sciences

|

College of Veterinary Medicine

Winter/Spring 2014

| Volume 15, Issue 1

Our students are on journeys of discovery.

Your gift will help pave their road. WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine 309 E. Second Street • Pomona, CA 91766-1854 Contact Tim McPheron at (909) 706-3762, [email protected] Veterinary Outlook Magazine Editor: Paul Gordon-Ross, DVM, MS 909.706.3529 • [email protected]

Photographer: Jeff Malet 909.469.3790 • [email protected]

Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine

Associate Editor: Carla Sanders [email protected]

Photographer: Mirza Hasanefendic 909.469.5298 • [email protected]

Assistant Editor: Caren Tse 909.706.3874 • [email protected]

Graphic Designer: Paul Gettler 909.469.5256 • [email protected]

309 E. Second St. Pomona, Calif. 91766-1854 909.469.5628 www.westernu.edu [email protected]

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Winter/Spring 2014 | Volume 15, Issue 1

INSIDE 2 Word from the Dean 3 Commencement Speaker Preview 4 The CVM Hollywood Connection 6 Strategic Plan Part II 7 CVM Professors Aid in Gibbon Surgery 8 Veterinary School Collaboration 9 Professor Helps Birds of Prey 10 Helping the Giant Panda Population 12 Veterinary News & Notes 14 Research Update 15 Student Research Day 16 Around Campus 17 WAVE 18 Student Profiles 21 Alumni Connection/Calendar

ON THE COVER Giant pandas in the United States and China are thriving, thanks in part to the CVM's Dr. David Kersey. (Story, Page 10).

Veterinary Outlook Magazine is published three times per year by the College of Veterinary Medicine of Western University of Health Sciences. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated without permission. If you would like to be removed from the Veterinary Outlook mailing list, contact Liz McGowan at 909.469.5392 or email [email protected].

Veterinary Outlook 1

Word from the Dean The great Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted as saying that “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Similarly, Michael Mountain, founder of Best Friends Animal Society, has stated, “Kindness to animals and respect for all life are the only meaningful foundations for a civilized world.” Mountain suggests the most meaningful pillar of civilization is a communal respect for life – including animals. Gandhi also asserts that the “greatness” of a nation is related to its compassion for life, and that compassion can be measured in the way the nation’s animals are treated.

Our College’s contribution to America’s “greatness” can be measured by the compassion of our graduates and their future roles in assuring the health and respectful treatment of their charges...

Our College’s contribution to America’s “greatness” can be measured by the compassion of our graduates and their future roles in assuring the health and respectful treatment of their charges – because they understand the importance of their roles in protecting and promoting the “public health.” Through our “Reverence for Life” founding principles, our curriculum repetitively exposes our students to the inter-relationships of human, animal, and ecological health. This “One – Health” paradigm is also modeled by the activities and research of our faculty. Their function as mentors and models of behavior shouldn’t be taken lightly. In this issue, we tell a few of their stories.

Dr. David Kersey provided valuable information to Chinese scientists regarding the reproductive cycle of the giant panda and will be traveling to China this summer to help even further. Dr. Miguel Saggese has become a noted expert about birds of prey and is often featured at international conferences. Even Hollywood has come a-callin’, featuring many of our faculty either as experts on-screen or consultants behind the scenes. Such exposure means that time and again, the spotlight is on WesternU. Thankfully, with our stellar faculty and staff, guiding principles, and innovative curriculum, we are all ready for our close-up – and for the work ahead. Perhaps President John F. Kennedy said it best: “To educate our people, and especially our children, to humane attitudes and actions toward living things is to preserve and strengthen our national heritage and the moral values we champion in the world.” As the class of 2014 joins the professional ranks, I would like to remind them (and all of our alumni) of their responsibility to the “greatness” of our society.

Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD

Dean’s Calendar June 19-22, 2014 PacVet Conference, San Francisco

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June 22-24, 2014 WITCHE, Hawaii

July 26-29, 2014 AVMA, Denver, Colo.

cardiologist, OneHealth lecturer and best-selling author will address the Class of 2014 at this year’s WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine Commencement Ceremony on May 15. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, is a professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She is actively involved with patient care, medical education and research. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz holds a professorship in the UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and is co-director of the Evolutionary Medicine Program at UCLA.

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She serves as a cardiovascular consultant on the Medical Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Zoo and lectures frequently on One Health and the potential for novel investigation, improved global health, and advancement in clinical care through collaborations between human physicians and veterinarians. In 2010, she founded the annual “Zoobiquity Conference: A Species Spanning Approach to Medicine,” a discussion among doctors treating the same diseases in their patients of different species. Zoobiquity Conferences are in their fifth year bringing physicians and veterinarians – and medical and veterinary students – from around the world together for connection and collaboration. In 2012, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz co-authored the New York Times bestselling book, “Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health.” It was named Discover Magazine’s Best Book of 2012, The China Times’ Best Foreign Translation of 2013, and was a finalist in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Excellence in Science Books 2012. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Nature, Scientific American, and New Scientist, among others. “Veterinarians are very aware of the deep linkages that exist between the health of all species and the power of the comparative approach,” she explained. “It is time to engage the physician community in this important and exciting conversation. The OneHealth movement has already led to important scientific insights. It’s an exciting time to be at the interface between veterinary and human medicine.”

Zoobiquity Conference Founder To Speak at CVM Commencement

Her own interest grew out of what she calls “an aha” moment at the zoo 10 years ago. Listening to the veterinarians discussing arthritis, diabetes, breast cancer and other disorders, she realized veterinarians were taking care of the same disorders in their animal patients that she was in her human patients. Why, she wondered, in her years as a physician at a major teaching hospital, had she never once collaborated with a veterinarian? “Ever since that spark happened for me, my career shifted dramatically. OneHealth is one of the most fascinating scientific stories of the moment and I am grateful to be part of it.” Dr. Natterson-Horowitz completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard College and received a master’s degree from Harvard University. She received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco.


WesternU Faculty Expertise Sought by Filmmakers

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ore and more, when film and television productions need expertise in anything related to the veterinary field, they are turning their cameras toward WesternU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“We’ve become the Hollywood vet school,” said Associate Professor Diane McClure, DVM, PhD, DACLAM. That statement is borne out by the numerous times faculty members have provided input for various projects, as well as the celebrities who have visited the WesternU campus in Pomona, Calif., only a short drive from the entertainment capital. In the past year alone, Hollywood has come calling several times. Dr. McClure served as a technical consultant for an episode of TV’s popular “Grey’s Anatomy,” which aired in December. Also, in December, a production crew from Prometheus Entertainment was on the Pomona campus, filming for the “Ancient Aliens” TV series, which explores the theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years. The show airs regularly on H2, a sister channel to The History Channel. The crew interviewed Professor Jim Reynolds, DVM, MPVM, DACAW, for an episode that aired this spring titled, “Aliens in America.” Moreover, for 25 years, Associate Professor Gini Barrett, BS, has been involved in film and television production, reviewing projects and providing advice regarding potential content and animal welfare issues. “I have been involved with animals in film since 1989, when I joined the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and dealt with these issues from the point of view of the producers,” she explained. In 1997, she joined the American Humane Association (AHA) and oversaw the use of animals in film from the humane community point of view. She left AHA in 2001 and began consulting for all the Discovery channels, primarily Animal Planet, as well as for other media companies. She joined the WesternU faculty in 2002 and has continued consulting for media companies.


The biggest project to date with which she has been involved was “Whale Wars” on Animal Planet, a show in which a conservation group takes on Japanese whalers. Her involvement lasted for nearly a year, as she reviewed, among many things, all the relevant international agreements and national laws of Japan and other whaling countries, as well as the political, scientific and ethical issues. During her years with AHA, she provided services on the sets of theatrical motion pictures including “The Horse Whisperer” and “The Grinch.” One of her favorite projects was overseeing the use of a famous grizzly, Bart the Bear, at the 70th Academy Awards in 1998. Bart helped actor Mike Myers present an Oscar for Best Sound. “During rehearsals, all these film crews who were used to working with celebrities came to watch him,” recalled Ms. Barrett. “It was quite something. He was wonderful!” On the episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” with which Dr. McClure was involved, the fictional Dr. Meredith Grey, played by actress Ellen Pompeo, practiced transplanting a 3-D printed blood vessel – seeded with human DNA cells – into a sheep. Dr. Grey was using the sheep to research the procedure and determine if the implant would graft into a new host, making the procedure a viable option for humans. To make the scene look authentic, a veterinarian, played by actor Henry G. Saunders, was included during the surgery.

Dr. Diane McClure on the set of TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” with actor Henry G. Saunders, who played a veterinarian. According to Dr. McClure, the special effects team from the show did a great job with the simulated sheep. It had tubes, blood, real wool – and even breathed! She helped set up the replicated sheep for surgery, making it look authentic. She also worked with the actors to get the procedure right, explaining technicalities including how to hold a knife for the necropsy, how to use the monitor, how to administer anesthetic, and how to shear the sheep. And, she worked with the technical team on development of the script. “I definitely contributed to the authenticity of the scene and got things moving along, and they were genuinely listening to what I had to say,” Dr. McClure said. “I was really pleased with that. It was exciting.” She did not receive any payment for her role, but said her compensation was the show having a veterinarian in the scene. “I wanted it to be known that the surgeons don’t get to do these things unless a veterinarian is there.” Dr. McClure said this was her first consulting job for TV or film. The 10-hour day was well worth it, she said. “I felt the set related to what I have done for 20 years.” She added that it is important that veterinarians be represented in the kind of research demonstrated on the show, and that it be conveyed that veterinarians are the best health care providers for animals.

Dr. Reynolds is quoted as saying, “Just looking at the pictures, I can’t explain how this happened.” Previously, he was interviewed for a PBS documentary, “New Shepherds of the Farm.” The program aired in 2011 and Dr. Reynolds is seen and quoted extensively about humane treatment of dairy cattle. Famous animal advocate Temple Grandin also in featured in the film. The College of Veterinary Medicine’s link to Hollywood extends even further. A media room in one of the CVM buildings is named for the late Gretchen Wyler, a Broadway and film actress who was an early supporter of the college and an avid animal rights advocate. In 1972, Ms. Wyler became the first woman to serve on the board for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and in 2005 she was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame. Actress Heather Locklear, of TV’s “Melrose Place” and “Dynasty” fame, attended the dedication for a problem-based learning (PBL) room on campus and everyone’s favorite “Golden Girl” Betty White offered the keynote address to the charter class at the CVM’s inaugural commencement in 2007.

In addition to veterinary skill, geography played a big part in Dr. McClure landing the TV gig. A “Grey’s Anatomy” team member called her former colleague, Dr. Pamela Eisele, a sheep expert at University of California, Davis, who referred the show to Dr. McClure because she was closer to the studio where the TV show is filmed. Another faculty member who has spent time in front of the camera is Assistant Professor Betsy Charles, DVM, MA. She recently appeared in a documentary, “Furever Film,” about pet loss and how people memorialize their pets. “I just had a small cameo role, but played a big part in helping the filmmaker make some connections with my colleagues at WesternU as well as at Washington State, who have all been championing the human animal bond,” she said. On “Ancient Aliens,” Dr. Reynolds, a bovine veterinarian, was featured for about 30 seconds in an episode titled, “Aliens in America.” He appears on camera viewing photographs of dead cattle from the 1970s and 1980s in the Midwest. Was the condition of their mutilated carcasses due to typical animal scavengers, the show asked, or was it possibly from ancient aliens having removed body parts? While he spent the morning discussing with the production team how scavengers usually eat carcasses, they wanted more. So, on camera

Entertainer Charo, left, visited the CVM with her pet bull calf for an exam in December of 2008. Memorably, Latin singer/dancer/actress Charo took advantage of the CVM’s expertise and brought a 14-week-old, 250-pound Angus-mix bull calf to campus for an exam in 2008. Several faculty members were involved, with members of the media also present. As word gets out about WesternU and its pre-eminent veterinary college, more requests may be on the way. “We’re not in the media center,” said Ms. Barrett. “If WesternU were better known, there would be a lot more requests.”


Strategic Plan Strong Core Curriculum and Employee Well-being Are Important Components for Future Success The WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine unveiled a five-year Strategic Plan in the summer of 2013. The plan – which runs from January 2014 to January 2019 – focuses on five “critical strategic issues” (CSI’s): Enhancement of the research program, strengthening the core curriculum and teaching methodology, employee well-being/job satisfaction, educational value, and enhancement of the college’s community image. In each edition of Veterinary Outlook this year, we are looking more in depth at the CSI’s.

In this edition: Strengthening the Core Curriculum and Teaching Methodology and Employee Well-being/Job Satisfaction

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hile WesternU’s problem-based learning (PBL) was a curricular innovation during the initial program design, according to the Outcomes Assessment portion of the plan dealing with Strengthening the Core Curriculum and Teaching Methodology, “there is a tendency toward inertia or stagnation in educational methods as the college ages.” In addition, many aspects of the teacherstudent dynamic, how teachers are valued and the curriculum could and should be assessed and strengthened. To accomplish this, the plan recommends “a commitment by the college, of both financial and human resources (time and personnel), to emphasize and incentivize development, validation, and/or implementation of educational innovations in a scholarly manner.” Recommendations that relate to personnel include having technology savvy faculty on board, creating the position of associate dean of Veterinary Education, and creating a “promotion and tenure document that recognizes educational scholarship as a valued and viable path of career advancement.” Additional recommendations include reallocating faculty time to allow development or implementation of education innovation and having full-time equivalent faculty assigned specifically to curriculum evaluation/assessment. The CVM also needs a “dedicated funding stream for internal development of innovation, partnerships with industry and “alternate funding sources beyond typical educational grants.”


The Action Team identified several key issues regarding Employee Well-being/Job Satisfaction. Among them were: ineffective communication, faculty members who don’t feel involved in key decisions, and staff dissatisfaction or discontent. To address these issues the plan recommends that the CVM develop clear lines of communication at all levels, engage the faculty in a “bottom up approach to running the curriculum,” provide more opportunities for staff promotions and recognition, lay out a comprehensive structure for staff positions in which roles and responsibilities are clearly identified, provide a structured and verifiable feedback and evaluation process, and create a system whereby both staff and faculty can raise concerns about treatment and/or performance. The goal will be to “improve trust and transparency through improved communications within college programs and between administration leaders, faculty and staff.”

In the next issue of Veterinary Outlook: • Eduactional Value • Enhancement of the College’s Community Image

CVM Professors Aid in Gibbon Surgery

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wo professors from the WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine played key roles earlier this year during a successful collaborative surgery on an infant gibbon.

The CVM’s Lyon Lee, DVM, PhD, DACVA, and Ohad Levi, DVM, were part of the team that operated on the infant of Phy Gyi at the Gibbon Conservation Center in Santa Clarita, Calif. The young gibbon successfully underwent surgery for an inguinal hernia repair. The surgery became necessary after Dr. Howard Martin, a specialist at the center, noticed the infant had a bulge on his lower abdomen. Though the hernia was small and manageable at Dr. Martin’s first assessment, a few days later the staff noticed that the hernia had gotten larger. The veterinarians on staff decided the best course of action was to go into surgery to repair the hernia and avoid a life-threatening emergency. Because the infant was only three weeks old and a mere 600 grams, The Conservation Center contacted Western University of Health Sciences for their support. With Dr. Lee, an anesthesiologist, monitoring the little guy closely, Dr. Levi and Dr. Martin were able to perform the very difficult and delicate hernia repair operation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnoFUYgdb0s Veterinary Outlook 7

VETERINARY SCHOOL

COLLABORATION FOCUSES ON TEACHING

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ake teaching matter. Those three words are at the heart of a new initiative by the Consortium of Western Regional Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.

“Our goal is to really make teaching matter and provide resources and support to accomplish that,” said WesternU CVM Professor Peggy Schmidt, DVM, MS, DACVPM, who is the current elected chair of the consortium’s new Teaching Academy. “We want to show that veterinary education is a valued career track. The deans of the consortium have said they value teaching and that there is an impact being made and to be made.” In the past, being a good educator played only a minor role in advancement, promotions and tenure at veterinary colleges and universities. Most of the focus was on research and the number of articles published, according to Dr. Schmidt. The Teaching Academy’s goal is to change that focus. As such, they are looking at numerous variables to measure teaching success and how to evaluate it, including what makes a good teacher, engagement and stimulation of students, impact on students’ futures, and motivation. Part of the program also will involve faculty development. “There is a lot of literature about how to educate students, ” Dr. Schmidt said. “Good teaching is based in science. We need to make sure we are teaching to their (students’) future, not our past.” In fact, at WesternU, one of the recommendations in the CVM’s five-year Strategic Plan unveiled last summer deals with this issue. It states that the CVM should create a “promotion and tenure document that recognizes educational scholarship as a valued and viable path of career advancement.” Dr. Schmidt will spread the word even further in July, when she and several of her colleagues from WesternU will lead a four-part professional development program at the AVMA National Convention in Denver, Colo. The program is entitled “Teaching in Your Clinic – The Art


and Science of Veterinary Education from Externships to Preceptorships and Beyond,” and information about the program notes, in part, “Just as practicing quality veterinary medicine is a combination of both art and science, the practice of quality education requires both the knowledge of education as a science and the art of applying that science in a realworld setting.” The idea for the Teaching Academy has been in the works since the 2011 inception of the consortium, which was formed after deans of the five westernmost veterinary colleges in the country agreed that many common issues could be addressed jointly and that a consortium would provide a greater voice on national issues. Along with Western University of Health Sciences, the other members are Colorado State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University and University of California, Davis. The first full meeting of the Academy, which will meet every two years, was held in the summer of 2013 at Oregon State. The next session will be in summer 2015 at Washington State. “At that first consortium meeting, formation of the Teaching Academy was the top priority,” Dr. Schmidt said. The Teaching Academy is composed of nominated faculty members from each university. The current WesternU CVM members are Paul Gordon-Ross, DVM, MS, Jennifer Buur, DVM, DACVCP, PhD, Peggy Barr, DVM, PhD, Suzie Kovacs, MSc, John Tegzes, MA, VMD, DABVT, and Dr. Schmidt. The academy’s steering committee meets via teleconference every six to eight weeks and various working groups hold one to two meetings in person about once a year. “This Teaching Academy is the first cross-institutional academy of its kind,” said Dr. Schmidt. “We hope that it will allow collaboration and resource sharing across institutions to improve the quality of veterinary education for our students and quality of life for faculty dedicated to teaching those students.”

CVM Spotlight CVM Professor’s Knowledge Aids Birds of Prey ssociate Professor Miguel D. Saggese, DVM, MS, PhD, considered an expert in the field of birds of prey worldwide, has been involved with several presentations and publications in the past six months, offering insight and knowledge at various international events.

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In October, 2013, Dr. Saggese, who is director at large for the Raptor Research Foundation (an international scientific society whose primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors), was the main organizer and one of the three conference cochairs of the I Worldwide Raptor Conference. The event was held in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Bariloche City, Rio Negro province, Argentina, South America. More than 200 delegates from 30 countries and five continents Dr. Miguel Saggese and his attended this meeting.

co-chairs presented a talk entitled “Everything you wanted to know about Patagonian raptors, but were afraid to ask!”

During the meeting, Dr. Saggese presented four different papers (three posters and one oral presentation) some of them a result of collaborative work conducted with researchers from the USA, Canada, and Argentina, including CVM students Natalie Nguyen, Shelley Taylor and Joseph Debrota, who conducted summer research projects with Dr. Saggese. The oral presentation was titled, “Breeding Biology of Southern Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in Santa Cruz Province, Southern Patagonia, Argentina.” The posters were: • Lead Toxicosis in California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) Admitted for Rehabilitation at the Los Angeles Zoo: a Retrospective Case Series Study (1995-2012) • Solitary Crowned Eagles’ (Harpyhalieatus coronatus) Plasma Neutralizes Pit Viper (Bothrops alternatus) Venom In Vitro • Are Infectious Diseases and Environmental Toxins Decreasing Raptor Populations in Southern California? In addition, during the conference, Dr. Saggese and his co-chairs presented a talk entitled “Everything you wanted to know about Patagonian raptors, but were afraid to ask!” On Oct. 28, after the conference concluded, Dr. Saggese was invited to present a seminar, “Medical Aspects in the Rehabilitation of Patagonian Raptors,” to veterinarians from Bariloche city and surrounding areas of Northern Patagonia. The venue for this seminar was Universidad FASTA, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro province, Argentina.

Dr. Saggese also has been recognized recently in the following ways: • He published an article titled “Parental care and time-activity budget of a breeding Miguel Saggese pair of Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) in Southern Patagonia, Argentina.” The article was in the journal Asociacion Colombiana de Ornitologia. • He was invited to give a three-day course on raptor medicine, rehabilitation, biology and conservation and a wet lab on raptor handling and clinical procedures in Bogota, Colombia last December. The event was held at the Zoo Parque Jaime Duque and was co-organized by the Colombian National Associate of Zoos and Aquariums (ACOPAZOA), the Environmental and Sustainable Development Ministry, Universidad LaSalle and the Zoo Parque Jaime Duque. • He was co-author of a study presented by Dr. Pablo Regner at the First Biennial Meeting of the Latin American Wildlife Diseases Association. This meeting took place at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of São Paulo, at São Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 19-22, 2013. Dr. Saggese earned a veterinary degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, completed a three-year residency and a master’s degree at The Raptor Center University of Minnesota, and completed a PhD in microbiology at the Schubot Exotic Bird health Center, Texas A&M University. His main research interests are on investigating the role that infectious pathogens and pollutants have in Southern California raptors, the conservation and population ecology of Patagonian birds of prey, and the impact of lead spent ammunition on crowned eagles, condors and other scavengers.


Helping the

Giant Panda

Population


Scientists from China visit WesternU cientists from the China Conservation and Research Centre took a crucial first step to repopulate the giant panda into the wild by visiting with CVM Assistant Professor David Kersey, PhD, a renowned reproductive biologist.

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The scientists, Yingmin Zhou and Xiaoyu Huang, were from an organization that manages 60 percent of the captive giant panda population at three main giant panda breeding facilities in Wolong, Dujiangyuan, and Bifengxia. Pandas International, a nonprofit leader in panda conservation, funded the trip. In return, Dr. Kersey will head to China this summer to help set up an endocrine laboratory in Dujiangyuan. The Chinese scientists began their 20-day United States visit last fall with three days of training with Dr. Kersey, a key contributor in artificially inseminating (AI) Zoo Atlanta’s 15year-old giant panda Lun Lun. She gave birth to twin cubs on July 15, 2013. The scientists’ goal is to strengthen their technique on fecal hormone analysis to improve captive breeding, by maximizing the breeding potential of the captive giant panda population and reintroducing pandas into the wild. The next step is to build the capacity to develop knowledge, bring it back to China, and apply it to species conservation, according to Dr. Kersey.

The CVM’s David Kersey, PhD, has won the top prize in the web-based international competition, “Giant Panda Zoo Awards 2013.”Dr. Kersey, whose specialty is physiology, shares the award with his colleague Copper Aitken-Palmer, DVM, PhD, chief veterinarian at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. AI and the breeding of perhaps dozens of female giant pandas each year. Dr. Kersey said the reason feces are analyzed is because they’re easy to collect, and they store good hormone data. Dr. Zhou said her team came to the U.S. to make sure they are doing the analysis properly. The training they are receiving from Dr. Kersey and others will help them move beyond just collecting knowledge on captive populations. “The goal is to protect the giant panda,” she said. “It’s not enough to only populate pandas on reserves. We want to bring the giant pandas into the wild to make the species stronger.” After learning from Dr. Kersey in the lab, Drs. Huang and Zhou had planned to spend a week of additional training split between the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, but the federal government shutdown altered those plans. Instead, they received training at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Afterward, Dr. Kersey escorted them to an endocrine conference. The two then visited an endocrine assay company before heading back to China. Dr. Kersey’s reciprocal visit will be the latest in a string of trips he has taken to China in the past decade.

“We have been able to grow the captive population, in part, by applying knowledge we generated from basic science research,” he said. “They are looking to use the large captive population as a reintroduction reservoir.”

“Working with colleagues in the US and in China we have been able to elevate the level of care provided to the giant panda,” he said. “and the efforts we have put in are paying off.”

About 1,600 giant pandas are left in the wild. More than 300 live in zoos and breeding centers around the world, mostly in China. Nearly all the pandas in the U.S. and other parts of the world are on loan from China. The exceptions are two at a zoo in Hong Kong; both were gifts from China, said Dr. Kersey. The panda is listed as endangered in the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN’s) Red List of Threatened Animals.

The life span for a giant panda in captivity is at least 20 years, he said, and his mission, as he sees it, is to “make sure that whatever we do is for the conservation of the species.” Currently, he is involved in web-based problem-solving conversations with his Chinese colleagues several times a month. There will come a day, though, when that will end.

At their base in China, the scientists work in the endocrine laboratory, and are responsible for timing the

Kersey Tops Zoo Awards

“One day, they won’t need me,” he said. “And that will be a good thing because it will mean the giant panda is no longer in danger.”

The two captured gold with 33 percent of the vote in the category of “Panda Personality of 2013 - The Human,” according to results announced Jan. 17, 2014, at Zoo Atlanta. Online voting was open to anyone worldwide from Dec. 13, 2013, to Jan. 14, 2014. More than 239,000 votes were registered during the one-month voting in 10 categories, according to Giant Panda Zoo’s press release. “Dr. Aitken-Palmer and I were nominated for our collaboration in the successful artificial insemination (AI) of the twin cubs born at Zoo Atlanta and the contribution she and I have made to the knowledge of giant panda biology from our 10-plus years of research,” said Dr. Kersey. “To have been nominated for this award is something special, but to have won is very exciting.” The Giant Panda Zoo Awards are organized by www.GiantPandaZoo.com, a website about captive giant pandas around the world, to promote the important panda conservation work in China and abroad.

www.giantpandazoo.com/ panda/news/giant-pandazoo-awards-2013-thewinners-2


Veterinary News & Notes CVM faculty members Spring Halland, DVM, CVA, DACVIM, Lyon Lee, DVM, PhD, DACVA, and Ohad Levi, DVM, and 12 students participated in the enucleation of a horse in a field in Norco, Calif. The caretaker of the horse is a staff member of WesternU. The students were all members of the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. They carried out, under close supervision of the faculty, many clinical procedures including tissue handling, suturing, IV catheterization, bandaging, administering local or general anesthetics, and they assisted in anesthetic induction and recovery. Students participating were Liz Perry, Amanda Blake and Mailie Fanning (all Class of 2015); Kristina Ridge, Randall Bryden, Lexi LaPorte, Kelsey Milich (Class of 2016); and Kathryn Slaughter, Rachel Williams, Kayla Ross, and Jackie Hofer (Class of 2017).

The Clinical Sites Advisory Board for the WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine met in March on the WesternU campus. Representatives from Nativis Inc. offered a presentation, “Voyager Anti-Cancer Medical Device Canine Clinical Trials.” Shown at the meeting are, from left, Mike Butters, vice president of technology at Nativis; CVM Dean Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD; John Butters, president and CEO of Nativis; Lisa Butters, chief operations officer of Nativis, and John Payne, chairman of the American Humane Association and a member of the Nativis Board of Directors. CVM FACULTY Assistant Professor David Forster, MRCVS, and the CVM Shelter Club, along with Mercy House, located in Ontario, Calif., offered a free vaccine clinic for homeless and low-income pet owners. They used the VACS mobile clinic and also were able to disperse donated pet food along with the vaccines. More clinics are planned for the local area.

Assistant Professor Suzana Tkalcic, DVM, PhD, traveled to her homeland of Croatia to lecture at the University of Zadar. The title of her lecture was “Pathology of Domestic Animals” in a course on Diseases and Health Protection of Domestic Animals at the University of Zadar in Croatia.


Malika Kachani

David Forster

Suzana Tkalcic

Professor Malika Kachani, DVM, PhD, traveled to her home country of Morocco to present a course on One Health and zoonotic diseases to a group of tutors including veterinarians, physicians and biologists from the Maghreb and the Sahel. This was a five-day course and was a contribution to the zoonotic diseases module of a European Union project. She was invited by the European Union project coordinator and the Department of Parasitology of the Veterinary School in Morocco.

Professor Tracey McNamara, DVM, DACVP, was invited by the Science Center programs of the U.S. Department of State to evaluate a proposal submitted for funding. Her evaluation will be used by science advisers to the State Department at Los Alamos and Brookhaven National Laboratories and the State Department in determining whether the proposal should be funded. The Science Centers, which include the International Science and Technology Center Tracey McNamara (ISTC) in Moscow and the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU), were established in 1994 and 1995 as nonproliferation programs, with the primary objective of providing peaceful, non-weapons opportunities to weapons scientists in the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union (FSU), particularly those with knowledge and skills pertaining to weapons of mass destruction.

ALSO: • Associate Professor Jennifer Buur, DVM, DACVCP, PhD, will be a judge at the 63rd annual California State Science Fair, April 2829, 2014, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. More than 1,000 participants in grade 6-12 from 400 schools throughout the state are expected to attend this year’s event. They will compete for awards totaling $50,000. In March, Dr. Buur presented a webinar for the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association, “Maximizing Pain Control in Canine and Feline Patients.”

CVM STUDENTS By Gina Cipolla, DVM 2015 and Jessica Brown, DVM 2016 The last block of the year is under way and first year students are finally settling into the swing of PBL and becoming familiar with all of the happenings on campus. As of Feb. 1, the first year student officers gained the responsibility of being in charge of all clubs within the CVM for the next year. Leaving the clubs in the hands of the first years has left the second years with more time to focus on their studies while also preparing for third year.

• Professor John Tegzes, MA, VMD, DABVT, provided video commentary for the “Just Food for Dogs” YouTube website on the FDA’s recent video, “Safe Handling of Pet Food in the Home.” The video is featured in the “Video Spotlight” section of the WesternU home page at www.westernu.edu. • Professor Beth Boynton, DVM, assisted in a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) event held at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. The purpose of the event was to encourage more young woman to consider going into one of the STEM fields. • Professor Joe Bertone, DVM, MS, DACVIM, was a recent invited presenter at the World Equine Veterinary Association meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico. The presentations were: “False Colic” and “Medical Management of Abdominal Pain.” • Associate Professor Diane McClure, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, was a recent guest speaker at the Cal Aero Preserve Academy in the Chino Valley Unified School District. Seventh- and eighth-graders from Lyle S. Briggs Fundamental School also were in attendance. • Assistant Professor Betsy Charles, DVM, MA, has moved into the position of course leader for the third year course Small Animal Practice. Previously, she was a diagnostic imaging resident/instructor. CVM MILESTONES Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members for their milestone years of employment in the College of Veterinary Medicine at WesternU: Denisha Jenkins, 10 years Frank Bossong, DVM, 5 years Elizabeth Schilling, DVM, 5 years

Gina Cipolla

There is a significant transition from second year to third year in which students will see less of the campus and spend much of their time in clinics. Third year enables students to gain exposure to many different fields in veterinary medicine and provides them with the unique opportunity to travel and see a variety of practices.

Beyond clubs of the CVM, WesternU’s Student Chapter of the AVMA (SCAVMA) worked hard to help send more than 30 students to the national Student AVMA Symposium in Fort Collins, Colo., during spring break. With a fully active fundraising committee, SCAVMA was able to raise more than $6,000 in only a few months to support this amazing educational, networking and fun experience.

Jessica Brown

Now that the year is coming to an end, second years are excited to plan their third year off campus while third years seem to be enjoying life after PBL. Fourth years are finishing up their final rotations, received their NAVLE scores in February, and are anxiously awaiting graduation in May. During the summer, our students will be participating in some great opportunities, including bovine internships, small animal critical care, cheetah conservation in Africa, aquavet trips, Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) trips, World Vets trips, research projects on and off campus and many other ventures. We all look forward to hearing about their experiences when classes begin again in August.


Research Assistant Professor Paul Gordon-Ross, DVM, MS, received word that a manuscript, “Distributive Veterinary Clinical Education: A Model of Clinical Site Selection,” on which he collaborated with several CVM faculty was accepted for publication in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (JVME). The others involved were Elizabeth Schilling, DVM, Linda Kidd, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, and Peggy Schmidt, DVM, MS, DACVPM. An online Paul Gordon-Ross advance may be viewed at http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/r67w366384852748/.

Professor Victoria Voith, DVM, MSc, MA, PhD, DACVB, presented two papers recently at the IFAAB meeting in Tucson, Ariz., on “Use of Dog Head-Halters and Restraint (Response Prevention) Techniques” and “Aggression and Castration Controversy.” She also participated in two panels on the same topics.

Professor Beth Victoria Voith Boynton, DVM, is presented a poster titled, “A Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Investigation of Health Professional Students’ Empathy.”at the National Academies of Practice, Annual Meeting and Forum in Alexandria, VA. She was also inducted as a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow.

Assistant Professor Jijun Hao, PhD, has published several articles recently. Dr. Hao published a stem cell research paper entitled “Neuregulin-1β induces embryonic stem cell cardiomyogenesis via ErbB3/ErbB2 receptors.” The article was published in the Biochemical Journal [458, pp335-341]. In the paper, the author reported a novel signaling pathway, Neuregulin-1β/ErbB3/p-CREB, which plays a critical role in pluripotent stem cell cardiomyogenesis. Particularly, the discovery that activation of CREB transcription factor is indispensable in Neuregulin-1β-induced stem cell cardiomyogenesis may provide a novel approach for future stem cellbased therapy for cardiac repair. Dr. Hao also recently published a book chapter entitled “Molecular Mechanisms of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency” in the book “Pluripotent Stem Cells,” INTECH press, ISBN 978-953-51-1192-4. In Jijun Hao this chapter, the authors reviewed the signaling pathways and transcription factors critical for Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency, and deeply elucidated an emerging field of “naïve embryonic stem cells,” and provided some prospect view of future field direction. Moreover, Dr. Hao published a cancer research paper entitled “DMH1, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of BMP Type I Receptors, Suppresses Growth and Invasion of Lung Cancer” in PLoS ONE [2014:9(3): e90748]. In this paper, the authors reported that DMH1, a BMP signaling inhibitor previously developed by Dr. Hao in zebrafish model, can significantly attenuate the migration, invasion and proliferation of human lung cancer cells. The authors further demonstrated that DMH1 can dramatically reduce the tumor growth of human lung cancer in a mouse xenograft model, suggesting that blocking BMP signaling with DMH1 or its analogs may offer a new approach for lung cancer treatment. This was a collaborated project of multiple colleges including College of Pharmacy and College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific at WesternU. 14 College of Veterinary Medicine

Beth Boynton

A manuscript that describes student responses to active learning during a unique laboratory experience and in which numerous CVM faculty members took part, has been accepted for publication. Those involved were Jennifer Buur, DVM, DACVCP, PhD, Paul GordonRoss, DVM, MS, John Tegzes, MA, VMD, DABVT, Lyon Lee, DVM, PhD, DACVA, Gini Barrett, BS, and Joe Bertone, DVM, MS, DACVIM. The citation is: Buur JL, Gordon-Ross P, Tegzes JH, Lee L, Barrett G, and Bertone JJ Jennifer Buur (in press). “Iron Pharmacologist: Student Impressions, Satisfaction, and Self-Reported Learning in Response to Active Learning Course Activity in Veterinary Pharmacology.” Pharmacy Education Journal. An online advance may be viewed at the following: http://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/2014/02/iron-pharmacologist-studentimpressions-satisfaction-and-self-reported-learning-in-response-toactive-learning-course-activity-in-veterinary/.

David Kersey

Assistant Professor David Kersey, PhD, and two others secured funding for a project entitled “Assessing thyroid endocrine status in mammals: a new approach to diagnosing thyroid disease.” The project is a collaborative effort among Dr. Kersey, Copper Aitken-Palmer, DVM, PhD, of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and Kari Morfeld, MS, PhD, of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The project was submitted by Dr. Morfeld to the Nebraska Wesleyan University Research or Creative Endeavor Grant.

Student Research Day Lauded ore than 70 people – both students and faculty – took part in WesternU’s Third Annual College of Veterinary Medicine Student Research Day, which drew praise all around. Calling the January, 2014, event a “resounding success,” CVM Associate Dean for Research Dominique Griffon, DMV, MS, PhD, DECVS, DACVS, said she was impressed not only with the presenters and mentors, but the faculty and students who attended.

M

“While experiments are often a solitary or small group venture, it is only through collaboration and involvement in the community that these undertakings become progressive research,” Dr. Griffon said. “Dissemination of intellectual results is the capstone of every successful discovery. While a single data point may be important, it is only in the expanding graph that we see trends and build conclusions. So, too, must research be shared by a community to be of true benefit to society.” Three CVM faculty members served as judges for the competition. They were Associate Professor Yiling Hong, PhD; Assistant Professor Gagandeep Kaur, DVM, PhD, and Professor James Reynolds, DVM, MPVM. David Haworth, DVM, PhD, president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation, was the event’s keynote speaker. Because of the excellent participation and fierce competition this year, the judges recommended three awards in each category to express their admiration with the level of scholarship and dedication, Dr. Griffon said. Certificates of Award and cash prizes were officially presented during the annual CVM Honors Day in April.

The 2014 winners, research topics and their advisors are: Outstanding Research and Presentation of A Clinical Project 1. Ainjil Bills, DVM ’15: “Establishing Normal Thyroid Hormone Values For The Male Giant Panda.” CVM Assistant Professor David Kersey, PhD. 2. Lindsey Jett, DVM ’16: “Molecular Prevalence Of Vector Borne Disease In Free Roaming Cats From Louisiana.” CVM Assistant Professor Pedro Diniz, DVM, PhD. 3. Audrey Keebaugh, DVM ’15: “Factors Influencing Pressure Mat Analysis Of The Canine Gait.” CVM Associate Dean for Research Dominique Griffon, DMV, MS, PhD, DECVS, DACVS. Outstanding Research and Presentation of A Basic Science Project 1. Natalie Punt, DVM ’15: “Regulation Of Pathogenic Antiviral Immunity By Peripheral and Meningeal Stromal Cells During Viral Meningitis.” Phillip Swanson, PhD, and Dorian B. McGavern, PhD, both from the National Institutes of Health. 2. Andreana Lim, DVM ’16: “Inhibition of Pericyte Migration in Spinal Cord Injury Creates a Window for Cervical Contusion Treatment: A Pilot Study.” Drs. Chris Czisch, Seok Voon-Lee, CVM Assistant Professor Suzana Tkalcic, DVM, PhD, and Giles W Plant, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine. 3. Kurt Michelotti, DVM ’15: “Comparison between Training Models to Teach Veterinary Medicine Students Basic Laparoscopy Surgery Skills.” CVM Associate Professor Ohad Levi, DVM. Veterinary Outlook 15

Around Campus WESTERNU TESTS TOMOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT

STUDENT EVENT BRIGHTENS HOLIDAYS

Western University of Health Sciences is one of six institutions testing two

More than 100 children through the Los Angeles County Department of

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) devices. The University’s College of

Children and Family Services

Optometry is creating a normative database for a U.S. Food and Drug

received Christmas cheer, food and

Administration-approved study of two OCT devices, Topcon OCT-1

gifts during Western University of

Maestro and 3D OCT-200 Optical Coherence Tomography. Topcon

Health Sciences’ Santa’s Workshop

Corporation is a Tokyo, Japan-based company divided into three business

Dec. 7, 2013.

domains: Smart Infrastructure, Positioning and Eye Care.

WesternU has been the proud host

The study is being led at WesternU by College of Optometry Associate

of Santa’s Workshop for the past 25

Professor Pinakin Gunvant Davey OD, PhD, FAAO. It is being conducted

years. The Student Government Association (SGA) organized the

in WesternU’s Patient Care Center on the Pomona, Calif., campus.

workshop with support from the Office of University Student Affairs and

“These devices are very state-of-the-art,” Dr. Davey said. “Current

the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

machines have to do three scans for what this device is capable of doing in one scan. It evaluates the nerve, retina, and takes a fundus photograph

IN MEMORIAM: WARREN LAWLESS

of the posterior retina in true color in one shot.”

Warren Lawless, a pillar of Western University of Health Sciences and West Seattle, Wash., who dedicated his life to service, died on Jan. 13,

Study subjects, who must be 18 or older without eye disease, will undergo

2014, in Washington. He was 95.

an eye examination and will be scanned at least nine times on the 3D Mr. Lawless served more than 30 years on

OCT-1 Maestro and at least six times on the 3D OCT-2000.

the Western University of Health Sciences WESTERNU HONORED FOR ARTHRITIS WORK

Board of Trustees, taking the helm as

WesternU received the 2013 Partner in Progress Award from the Arthritis

chairman a scant 10 months after the

Foundation’s Inland Empire branch. The University is conducting a clinical

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the

study to evaluate the prevalence of dry eye in rheumatoid arthritis

Pacific’s inaugural class had graduated. He

patients, which could potentially lead to new

served as chairman until 2013, when he took

treatments. This interprofessional study is being

on the title of chairman emeritus.

conducted by College of Optometry faculty members Jasmine Yumori, OD, FAAO, Robert

Warren Lawless

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as

Gordon, OD, FAAO, DPNAP, and Gillian

an electrician’s mate in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater, and later

Hollands, OD, MS; College of Osteopathic

studied business and the humanities at the University of Washington

Medicine of the Pacific faculty members Michael

while working as a journeyman typographer for the West Seattle

Finley, DO, and Dat Trinh, DO; and College of

Herald. He rose steadily through the newspaper’s ranks, eventually

Graduate Nursing faculty member Tina Escobedo, DNP, RN, FNP-BC,

becoming manager of retail advertising sales before leaving to start his

with a research grant from Allergan Pharmaceuticals.

own printing and management company in the late 1960s, which he operated until his retirement in 1988.

One of the biggest challenges for the research team, and for research projects in general, is recruiting subjects, said Dr. Yumori. WesternU

Lawless was also deeply involved in community service, as part of the

reached out to neighboring organizations such as Casa Colina Centers for

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce but most notably as a member of

Rehabilitation and local rheumatologists to help get the word out about

the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle. He received an honorary Doctor of

the study.

Humane Letters degree from COMP in 1980, and in 1997 received the University’s Humanism in Medicine Award. WesternU held a “family

“The Arthritis Foundation has been incredibly supportive,” said Dr.

reunion” of Lawless relatives during COMP-Northwest’s Convocation

Yumori. “We’ve been going to community events with them and sharing

weekend in Lebanon, Ore. in August 2013, bringing together his blood

information about the study. They’ve been really great in sharing our

relatives and members of his WesternU family to share memories.

educational material with their volunteers. It’s been a great learning process, learning about how much support and advocacy they do for

The Board proclaimed Aug. 3 and Aug. 10, 2013 as “Warren Lawless

patients with arthritis.”

Days” on the campuses of Western University of Health Sciences.


WAVE

Always In Our Hearts

George By Chrissy & Bill Valentine ne Saturday in November 2006, we decided to stop by the Pasadena Humane Society, as we often do, and take a look at the animals. It was Chrissy’s birthday and what better way for two animal lovers to celebrate than to adopt a new member of the family?

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The cat room was filled with adorable, meowing kittens and full-grown cats rubbing their faces against cages, begging for attention. And then there was George. He was skinny, 10 years old, listed as a stray, facing the back of the cage and wheezing due to an upper respiratory infection he contracted while at the shelter. Without missing a beat, Bill said, “This is the cat for us.” We took him home and when his infection was gone, introduced him to the rest of the family, another cat named Miles and a dachshund named Ralphie. George and Miles became the best of friends, sleeping in the sun on the same chair together for hours at a time. After Miles passed away, George would split his time between that same chair and the bottom shelf of the linen cabinet in the bathroom. As the years passed, George developed kidney disease, but continued to eat his favorite canned food (but only if it was heated slightly in the microwave) and demand his morning grooming session with his favorite wire bristle brush. George was a sweet, dignified member of our family and we miss him very much. We don’t know what his life was like before he came to live with us, but we do know that we are so happy that he could spend his final years with us. We hope George will help other animals.

About the WAVE Program: The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Reverence for Life Commitment promises that animals will not be harmed in our teaching programs. A key element of this commitment is the WAVE (Willed deceased Animals for Veterinary Education) Program, which reaches out to animal owners to ask that they consider donating their beloved pets’ remains to anatomy and clinical skills education at the college (WAVE Program is modeled after the Human Willed Body Program at WesternU). More than 500 deceased animals have been donated to the college in the last two years. These special animals are providing a greater quality of education to future generations of veterinarians. All donations to WAVE must be deceased due to age, serious illness or injury. An animal that has no owner to approve the donation of its remains will not be accepted. When you know that the death of your beloved pet might be imminent, and you live within 40 miles of the college, please ask your veterinarian about donating to WAVE. Your veterinarian may contact Ms.Tami Miller at (909) 469-5597 to make all arrangements.

Establishing a Pet Trust Those concerned about what will happen to their animals should their human caregivers become incapacitated or die might consider including provisions in an estate plan. One means of doing so is to establish a charitable remainder unitrust to ensure their care in the event disaster strikes. This can be easily accomplished, and WesternU’s Planned Giving Office is available to assist in this process. For more information, contact Olive Stephens, Planned Giving administrator, (909) 469-5211 or [email protected].

Always in Our Hearts: Stories from WAVE appears as a regular feature in each issue of the Veterinary Outlook Magazine.


Class of 2017 Profiles

First-year CVM students are profiled throughout the year

I am from rural Pennsylvania where I earned a BS as well as an MS in Biology from Shippensburg University. My master’s thesis was on tick-borne pathogens. I hope to incorporate my background in equine dentistry into mixed-animal medicine with a focus on tick-borne pathology.

A native of Houston, Texas, I obtained my bachelor’s in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. I began work in research while getting my master of science at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. I hope to apply my experience and education to promote the welfare of laboratory animals. Jessica Anderson

Katherine Baldwin

I grew up in Southern California where I developed an interest in working with animals through many trips to local zoos and aquariums. I received my bachelor’s degree in Zoology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, while working full time in a small animal clinic in Costa Mesa.

I was raised on a small farm in Myrtle Creek, Ore. This agricultural experience plus my experience in nature with my wildlife biologist mother influenced a large part of my career. I obtained a bachelor’s in Animal Science and Fisheries and Wildlife with an emphasis on poultry science and wildlife conservation. I plan to pursue wildlife and exotic or conservation medicine. Amy Ariel Barkhurst

Christopher Bates

I grew up in Southern California and earned my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with emphases in Companion Animals and Animal Behavior from University of California, Davis. I went abroad to perform spay and neuter clinics and have interned at small animal clinics. Companion animals are my primary focus during veterinary school. Kellie Berman

I grew up in San Diego and in 2012, I received my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I am newly married to my wonderful husband, Stephan, and we have a beautiful year-old daughter, Clementine. I’m interested in large animal and zoo medicine. Therese Bruno

I grew up in Battle Creek Mich., aka “Cereal City USA.” While the city smells of Fruit Loops, it was the surrounding farmland that captured my heart. I received my bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and plan to study small animal medicine in hopes of one day owning my own practice. Gabrielle Carter

I grew up in Atascadero, Calif., and earned my degree in Animal Science & Management from University of California, Davis. I worked for several large animal and equine veterinarians and additionally was on the Western Equestrian Team at UCD. I plan to focus primarily on equine medicine.

I grew up in Queens, NY, and received a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from Binghamton University. As an undergraduate, I worked at a cat and rabbit exclusive practice, was involved in a few research projects, and had an internship in comparative medicine. I am interested in small animal surgery. Mario Costa


Joseph Davis

Brenna Cherry

I grew up on a small cattle ranch in Chewelah, Wash., and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Montana State University in Bozeman. I worked for an equine referral clinic in Nampa, Idaho, and as a laboratory animal veterinary technician at the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. I plan to focus on large animal medicine, but am also interested in specializing in surgery.

I grew up in New Washington, Ohio, and received my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Biology from the University of Findlay. I worked for the university farm for two years, a mixed animal practice for six months, and a therapeutic equestrian facility. I am interested in food animal medicine.

Originally from Oklahoma, my veterinary background is primarily in shelter and small animal medicine. I have a master’s in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and hope to study large animal medicine, combining my love for farm animals with my passion for policy. Carin Ferdowsian

Kerry Fortney

Born in Canada and growing up in Arizona, I had many animal family members from lizards to ducks. In undergraduate I studied physiology and neuroscience at University of California, San Diego, before finishing a master’s in Biomedical sciences from Colorado State University. I continue to be intrigued by small animal surgery.

I grew up in Cypress, Calif., and received my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I worked at Banfield Pet Hospital during high school and worked at VCA Animal Hospital while completing my undergraduate degree. I am interested in small animal medicine and owning my own practice.

Daniel Gutman

I was born and raised in San Jose, Calif., and obtained my bachelor of science in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. I plan to pursue small animal medicine.

I was born and raised in central New Jersey and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Pennsylvania State University. I have invested more than 3,500 hours of work in a specialty animal hospital in New Jersey and plan to pursue a small animal specialty certification upon graduation. Cody Kent

Ashley Keeley

I grew up in Chino Hills, Calif., and received my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at California State University, Fullerton, with a concentration in molecular biology/biotechnology. I worked at two small animal hospitals as an undergraduate. I am interested in small animal medicine.

I grew up in Santa Maria, Calif., where I gained experience in shelter, exotic, wildlife, small animal, and large animal medicine. I received my bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, where I participated in a retrospective equine thrombocytopenia study and research for the Sierra Nevada Red Fox's conservation efforts. I plan to pursue a mixed practice in the state of California. Stephanie Marie Klein

David Kim

I am from Glendale, Calif., and I graduated from The Polytechnic Institute of New York University with a bachelor’s in Biomolecular science. After school I worked full time at Montrose Pet Hospital, which fueled my desire to focus on small animal medicine during the next four years. Marisa Mauerhan

Lauren Heit

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, while working for the USDA, Food Safety Inspection Service. I also volunteered at a horse rescue facility. I plan to pursue large animal medicine with a focus on public health and the investigation of disease outbreaks. Brittany Newtown


I grew up on a hobby farm in southwest Florida and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Florida Gulf Coast University. I’ve worked for the past eight years at small animal clinics and also have spent some time working with wildlife rehabilitation. I plan to pursue small animal and exotic medicine.

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from California State University, Fresno, and received my PreMedical Certificate through UCLA Extension. I worked as a technician in small animal hospitals and volunteered my time with wildlife organizations. I plan to pursue small animal medicine with a focus on internal medicine. Tony Nitido

Meghan Schuman

I grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania, and hold a BS in Animal Science from the University of Delaware, as well as an MS in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University. I have worked in multiple positions at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. I also enjoy rock climbing and backpacking.

I graduated from Rutgers University in 2013 with a degree in Animal Science. In the past five years I have learned through research, an internship at the SPCA, a mobile equine practice focused on racehorses and performance horses, and acupuncture and chiropractic medicine. I am pursuing a career as a mixed animal veterinarian specializing in acupuncture and chiropractic medicine. Joe Simmons

I am from Rockland County, NY, and graduated from the University of Delaware with a BS in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal Biosciences. I have worked at a small animal veterinary hospital, horse farm, zoo, and did undergraduate research. Currently, I am interested in both large and small animal medicine. Monica Sterk

Christina Tataryn

I was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. I was a research intern at the Saint Louis Zoo and volunteered in small animal clinics, shelters, and rescue centers. I plan to pursue small animal medicine.

I grew up in upstate New York and received my BS in Cellular/Molecular Biology from Binghamton University. My employment in a small animal practice and my experiences with shelters, farms and large-animal veterinarians have all contributed to my interests in small and large animal medicine. My interests are in preventive medicine and client communication and education.

I have always had a passion for physical rehabilitation. I majored in kinesiology and received my doctorate in Physical Therapy. I have worked in canine rehabilitation for three years in Los Angeles. I plan to pursue small animal medicine focusing on rehabilitation including surgery, physical therapy, and alternative therapies. John Wagner

Andrew Tsai

I grew up in Fresno, Calif., and received my bachelor’s in Biology from California State University, Fresno. I raised three puppies in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind and have worked in a small animal practice for nine years. I’m interested in dermatology. I enjoy hiking with my dogs and kayaking in my free time. Lauren Waterhouse


Brianna Stafford

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and worked at the university’s farm as an animal care assistant and a research assistant for four years. I plan to focus on small animal medicine.

Ting-Ting Yang

Alumni Connection

Mission Statement

THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE is committed to serving society

Virtual Veterinary Career Center The WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine has implemented the online Veterinary Career Center (VCC), part of the nationwide Veterinary Career Network (VCN), which describes itself as “an industry wide alliance of the AVMA, State Veterinary Medical Associations, affiliate organizations, other national industry associations and education institutions, that serve professionals working in the animal-health industry.” The VCC offers Job Directory services and enables employers to advertise their job opportunities on the local directory for free or on the VCN for a fee. The VCC is accessible at http://cvmjobs.westernu.edu/. Information about pricing for the VCN can be found at http://cvmjobs.westernu.edu/rates/. The VCC provides access to the best, high-profile and even niche openings locally and nationwide from the industry’s leading institutions and practices. Students and alumni are able to do the following and more free of charge: • Build an in-depth profile to market skills and talent • Upload a resume and update it as often as desired (confidentially, if preferred) • Set up a personal Job Agent and be alerted when new jobs are posted • Review career-search tips and advice from recruiting experts • Search hundreds of jobs posted every day by leading institutions and practices Contact Emmanuel Griffon, the CVM’s web content administrator, with any questions. He may be reached at [email protected] or (909) 469-8780.

and animals through the preparation of students for the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary public health and/or veterinary research in an educational program of self-directed learning, reverence for life and clinical education through strategic partnerships. Instruction and clinical opportunities are provided in a wide variety of domestic species, including food animal, equine, and companion animals. The college sustains a vibrant diverse faculty by encouraging advancement through personal and professional development and research. This creates an environment of competent, caring, ethical professionals, where cooperative learning, public service and scholarship can flourish.

Dean Hosts Reception in Las Vegas CVM Dean Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD, hosted a reception in Las Vegas on Feb. 17, 2014, for the college’s alumni, students and faculty during the Western Veterinary Conference. The conference took place Feb. 16-20. The reception, in the dean’s suite at Mandalay Bay Hotel, was a wonderful opportunity for those associated with the CVM to reconnect with former classmates and faculty members, and meet current students. Annual Alumni Reunion Set for October Alumni from the WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine should mark their calendars for Oct. 18, 2014, for the next CVM all-years reunion. The Class of 2009 will be spotlighted at this year’s gathering as it celebrates its fifth-year reunion. Watch for more information in Veterinary Outlook as the reunion date draws near. Share Your News Have you recently married, started a new job, had a baby, or received a promotion? Update WesternU on your achievements and milestones so they can be shared with your fellow classmates. Send any news to [email protected].

CVM Calendar July 25-29 July 28 July 30-Aug. 1 Aug. 4-8 Aug. 9 Aug. 11 Sept. 1 Sept. 28

AVMA Convention, Denver, Colo. AVMA Convention, WesternU CVM Alumni Reception, Hyatt Regency, Denver: Mineral Hall B Preceptor/Faculty Summer Retreat CVM Orientation Week CVM Convocation and White Coat Ceremony First Day of Fall Term Labor Day Holiday World Rabies Day Veterinary Outlook 21

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 465 San Dimas, CA 91773

College of Veterinary Medicine 309 E. Second St. Pomona, Calif. 91766-1854 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

27159-5/14-P

Parting Shot

Screech Owls On The Wire! “Spring 2013, San Antonio Heights, Calif., a rare and stunning encounter with screech owls on an electrical wire. It turned out the encounter repeated four nights in a row as an entire family of screech owls had nested in the area.” – Emmanuel Griffon, CVM Web Content Administrator

If you have a Parting Shot photo to share, please contact us at 909.706.3874.

Spring 2014 - Western

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