Archive - February 2010

Thanks to our generous donors and sponsors, the college presented over $365,000 in awards and scholarships on Honors Night to approximately 125 members of our student body. And on this night, six faculty members were recognized for their outstanding teaching ability and research achievements. We congratulate all!

• Dr. Dan Givens – Carl Norden Distinguished Teacher Award
• Dr. Dwight Wolfe – Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Dr. Betsy Welles – SGA Outstanding Teacher Award
• Dr. Byron Blagburn – Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence
• Dr. Dean Schwartz – Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
• Dr. Doug Martin – B.F. Hoerlein Memorial Endowed Faculty Research Award

Dr. Dan Givens	Dr. Dwight Wolfe	Dr. Betsy Welles
Dr. Byron Blagburn	Dr. Dean Schwartz	Dr. Doug Martin

United States Senator Jeff Sessions visited the College of Veterinary Medicine on Feb. 19 and learned first-hand how Auburn-trained canines can be used to improve public safety and national security. Dr. Rob Gillette, director of the Auburn University Animal Health and Performance Program, and John Pearce, associate director of the Canine Detection Research Institute (CDRI), talked about Auburn’s novel asset – the Vapor Wake Detection canine.

CDRI breeds canines for specific traits and trains them to sample plumes of air – vapor wake – coming from persons and what they are carrying, such as explosives or munitions, as they pass through check points or crowds. Amtrak, the Federal Protective Service, and the United States Capitol Police have purchased and are using Auburn University Vapor Wake Detection dogs.

Canine Instructor Daniel McAfee and “Orion” demonstrated the objectives and benefits of canine detection for Sen. Sessions and the news media. Dr. Gillette and those involved in the presentation thank everyone who participated in the pedestrian traffic demonstration on the 19^th and on the days prior. 

Don’t forget to attend the Auburn Women Basketball’s game on Sunday (Feb. 28, 2 p.m.) – their final home game in Beard-Eaves Memorial Colosseum – with your complimentary ticket. Attendance serves as a tie-breaker in the Deans’ Challenge with the winning college receiving a $3,000 student scholarship.  Promotions include:

• Coliseum Replica Giveaway (first 500 fans)
• Senior Day - Post-game ceremony honoring senior Keke Carrier
• Letterman's Recognition and Pre-game Autograph Session
• "War on Hunger" Food Drive - Donate two or more non-perishable food items and receive free admission

Auburn’s 2009 Alumni Professors, which includes Dr. Frank Bartol, associate dean for research and graduate studies and a professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, were honored Feb. 20 at Auburn’s home basketball game against Arkansas. These six faculty members receive five-year, non-renewable professorships sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association with funds endowed from Auburn Annual Giving. The awards are presented on the basis of research, publishing, and teaching. 

Photo by Todd J. Van Emst

Five CVM employees attended the Feb. 3 orientation session. Orientation, which is offered on a monthly basis to new staff and faculty, covers such topics as general CVM information, security, safety and occupational health, the library, research and graduate studies, lab animal health, academic affairs, technology, and communications. A tour of the campus concludes the sessions. For upcoming dates or to attend, contact Karla Meadows, 844-3692.

Pictured are: (front row) Shalia Armstrong, research assistant, Admin; Dr. Sara-Louise Newcomer, clinical instructor, Clinical Sciences; Natalia Grabchenko, postdoctoral fellow, Pathobiology; (back row) Leslie Leak, lead administrative assistant, Clinical Sciences; and Joy Bowles, research assistant, Pathobiology.

The Intensive Care Unit held a fundraiser Feb. 19 to benefit the owner of a Gentilly Park mobile home who lost everything to a fire, including three of her four dogs. I.C.U. treated the surviving dog, a one-year-old Labrador Retriever named “Champ,” for smoke inhalation and burns. The second annual hot dog eating contest helped raise funds for the Critical Care Fund and Champ’s veterinary bill.

“Neighbors tried to save the dogs, but were only able to get one of them out,” said Dr. Douglass Macintire. “Champ” lost his mother and his littermates in the fire. “A neighbor, who works at the vet college, brought “Champ” to us and within minutes I had several veterinary students offering help in any way for this poor lady who lost everything,” said Dr. Macintire. 

Many of the veterinary students who live in Gentilly Park know Annetta Sparks who is employed at a nearby convenience store. She attended the event as “guest of honor” and spoke on how such generosity was helping her to heal.

Nic Dixon, the fourth-year veterinary student who took care of Champ, was a contestant. Nic’s uncle, who owns a t-shirt business in Kentucky, donated t-shirts for the contest. Chris D’Amico, husband of veterinary intern Laura D’Amico, won the competition after consuming 11 hot dogs in ten minutes. 

Our new linear accelerator is featured in a soon-to-be-released video for Auburn University’s Graduate School on Auburn's strengths in graduate education. The technology offers Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) which helps treat body cancers with less damage to healthy tissues. Members of the oncology service posed with Penny, a radiation oncology client, for the video segment shot by Kevin Fichtner of the Office of Communications and Marketing. After removal of a tumor by Dr. Andy Shores, Penny underwent 16 treatments of radiation therapy. She is now home with her family in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Pictured are (L-R) Natalie Royer, Janet Wardlow, Lynn Bentley, Dr. Greg Almond, Jennifer Hogan, and Dr. Bill Brawner.

• Dr. Marc Caldwell (Resident, Food Animal Medicine) who is one of five veterinary postgraduates presented the 2010 Dr. Jeffrey W. Tyler Food Animal Incentive Award for their commitment to food animal practice. Dr. Caldwell received the honor at the 82nd Annual Western Veterinary Conference held February 14-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Amy Wiley (SAC Medical Records) and her husband Phillip on the birth of their son, James Phillip, born February 6.
• Dr. Allison Stewart (Associate Professor, Equine Internal Medicine) on two articles she wrote for the January 2010 issue of EQUUS magazine. In the articles she writes of her experience at the 11^th World Equine Veterinary Association Congress held in Brazil in September. More than 1,000 veterinarians from 41 countries were in attendance.
• Dr. Charles Hendrix (Professor, Pathobiology) who is invited to give the commencement address at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

to the family and friends of Dr. Christine Dykstra, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology, who died January 30 after a battle against metastatic breast cancer. 

• Friday, March 5
• Noon
• Overton Cafeteria (lunch provided)

Dr. Pam Ford speaks on canine influenza.

Hosted by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

RSVP to Kris Street ( roberkr@auburn.edu, 844-3540) by March 1.

Each CVM department has a representative on the Web Content Committee. Participation by these representatives is important for feedback and communication regarding our Web site. Meetings are held the third Friday of each month in 180 Greene Hall (IIT) with the next scheduled meeting set for March 19.

Departmental Web Content Managers

• Academic Affairs - Kaye Storey
• APP - Debbie Allgood
• DCS (Small Animal) - Debbie Watkins
• DCS (Large Animal) - Pam Helmke
• Development - Jan Chamblin
• Lab Animal Health - Lindsey Woodward
• Pathobiology - Miranda Webb
• Research and Graduate Studies - Amelia Pendleton
• Scott-Ritchey - Angela Lowry
• Sports Medicine - Craig Angle
• Raptor Center - Marianne Murphy

With the “weigh-out” approaching for Scale Back Alabama teams during the week of April 12-16, check out the Scale Back Alabama Web site for health tips and videos on topics such as portion control, and using more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

The college has launched a Fan Page on Facebook. Search for "Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine."

You must be a Facebook user to view our page. To post CVM news, upcoming events, honorary awards, grant awards, etc. (with photographs), please send your information to Tara.Lanier@auburn.edu.