Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Hanger Clinic, formerly Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, are working together on a case that could have implications in the treatment and rehabilitation of horses, donkeys and other equines with congenital deformities or injuries.

Emma, a miniature donkey foal, was just two days old when she arrived at the John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital in April with a severe hind limb deformity, one that required amputation of the limb and the placement of a prosthesis.

Dr. Fred Caldwell, an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and equine surgeon, performed the procedure, and is working with clinician Billy Fletcher from Hanger Clinic – the same company which made the prosthetic tail for Winter, the amputee dolphin and star of the film “Dolphin Tale” – to develop a prosthesis for her limb. The two worked out a plan to both allow Emma time to heal from the surgery and transition from her cast to the prosthesis.

“Billy was excited and enthusiastic to assist,” Caldwell said. “Once we proceeded with the surgery and amputated the distal limb, he provided a small footplate to incorporate into the cast to even out the length of her hind limbs so she could bear weight until we could get the surgical site healed and have her fitted with a prosthesis. It has been a group effort on behalf of many caring individuals willing to go to great lengths to save her.”

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Dr. Dan Givens, Alumni Professor at Auburn University, has been named interim associate dean of academic affairs.  His appointment is effective until a search can be completed for a permanent associate dean.  He will replace Dr. Donna Angarano who retires Oct. 1.

“Dr. Givens brings an outstanding reputation in teaching and a deep interest in students to the position of interim associate dean for academic affairs,” said Dr. Calvin M. Johnson, College of Veterinary Medicine interim dean.

In the leadership position, Dr. Givens will interact with veterinary students from admission to graduation. “I am honored and eager to begin serving the college in this role.  Students and teaching have long been two of my passions, so this is an exciting opportunity for me,” Dr. Givens said.

Dr. Givens is an alumnus of Auburn University, earning a D.V.M. from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and a Ph.D. in 2000. He completed undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University. After practicing two years in Kentucky, he returned to Auburn to study viral diseases of cattle and to pursue residency training in theriogenology. He holds dual board certification from the American College of Theriogenologists and the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists.

Dr. Givens attained the distinguished rank of Alumni Professor in 2009.  He has received three of the veterinary college's teaching awards including the Carl Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (2010, 2004), the SGA Outstanding Teacher Award (2007), and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2001).

The college hosted a reception on July 24 to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Tim Boosinger to the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Boosinger began serving as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. The event was held to honor Dr. Boosinger and to recognize his many contributions.

by Dr. Benson Akingbemi

Faculty of 1000 (F1000) has cited a paper from a study on bisphenol A led by Dr. Benson Akingbemi as one of the best research articles available.  Dr. Akingbemi is an associate professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology.

The paper, “The industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) interferes with proliferative activity and development of steroidogenic capacity in rat Leydig cells”, appeared in the journal Biology of Reproduction and is part of work done by graduate student Manjunatha Nanjappa.  

Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food packaging products since the 1960s.  It is also a popular constituent of dental sealants.  After extensive scientific and public debate, the FDA ruled in July 2012 that, while BPA is not unsafe, baby bottles and children’s drinking cups could no longer contain BPA.

F1000 is a post-publication review group of thousands of experts worldwide who identify and evaluate the most important articles in biology and medical research publications.  The selection process identifies significant new research articles by the world’s leading scientists and clinicians. On average, 1500 new evaluations are published each month. The selection of Dr. Akingbemi’s work places it at the top 2% of all published articles in the biological and medical sciences.

F1000 previously cited a paper published in 2010 in the Biology of Reproduction that was based on a study of the toxicity of dietary soy beans by Dr. Akingbemi’s team.  Dr. Akingbemi’s research is focused on the effects of environmental toxicants on male reproductive tract development and function and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The college held an orientation session on July 11 for new employees.

Attending were:

• Tyler Rice, research assistant, Equine Source Plasma Project
• Tony Gravely, canine instructor, Animal Health and Performance Program
• Chrissy Senger, admin support assistant, Clinical Sciences
• Lisa Parsons, small animal surgery technician, Clinical Sciences
• Ginger Maddox, research associate, Equine Source Plasma Project
• Rachael Schurmann, research assistant, Equine Source Plasma Project
• Sam Jackson, diagnostic imaging tech, Clinical Sciences

"The Max Adams Morris story is a feel good Auburn story," said College of Veterinary Medicine professor and board member of the Auburn Heritage Association Charles Hendrix. "In the fourth stanza of the Auburn Creed it says, 'I believe in a sound mind, a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid,' and these are the qualities and traits that Max Morris exemplified."

Auburn University recently dedicated the Max Adams Morris ROTC Drill Field and historic marker at the Nichols Center on campus.

The new field is located in front of Nichols Center; the marker was placed near the building, as close as possible to the old Max Morris Field, which was located on the current site of the Village Residence Halls and adjacent parking lot.

Morris was a 1942 graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, or API, where he was an honor military student and a varsity football player. As a student, he received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism after he suffered severe burns rescuing Wayne Nelson Jr. and attempting to rescue H. Daughtry Perritt from electric shock at ROTC summer training camp at Ft. Benning, Ga., in 1941. Another cadet, Donald Kelly, saved Morris.

Hendrix came across Morris' story while working on another project. He began working with the Auburn University Board of Trustees to have the area in front of Nichols Center named as the new Max Morris Field. He also wanted to place a historic marker near the former site because, to him, Auburn is about heroes.

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Shown are Dr. Charles Hendrix, Auburn Heritage Association board member; Mary Norman, association president; and Brad Johnson, Alpha Psi member.

Individuals from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Office of Inspection at Birmingham, Huntsville, and Muscle Shoals airports are recognized by the Auburn University Canine Detection Research Institute (CDRI) for their contributions to canine detection and aviation security.

Federal Security Director Lyndel Hardy, Assistant Federal Security Director Afif Kanafani, and Transportation Security Inspector Robert Bouchillon of the Birmingham International, Huntsville International, and Northwest Regional Airports are recipients of the War Eagle Spirit Award. 

The College of Veterinary Medicine presented the awards following a graduation ceremony for detection dogs and handlers on July 6. Pete R. Garcia, division director of compliance programs within the Office of Security Operations at TSA was the guest speaker.

“The War Eagle Spirit Award goes to three individuals who are as committed and dedicated as Auburn University to training passenger screening dogs for TSA,” said John Pearce, CDRI associate director. The presentation of the spirit award to Hardy, Kanafani, and Bouchillon marks only the third time the honor has been given since its inception in 2010.

Shown are: Canine Detection Research Institute Associate Director John Pearce, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Acting Dean Calvin Johnson, TSA Division Director of Compliance Programs Pete Garcia, Transportation Security Inspector Robert Bouchillon, and Animal Health and Performance Director Rob Gillette.

Students enrolled in the undergraduate public health minor offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine met with UAB’s School of Public Health dean on July 24. Dr. Max Michael also gave a lecture on his personal assessment of public health policy. Shown are Rudolph Davis, College of Sciences & Mathematics; Dr. Michael; Dr. Ken Nusbaum; and Cliff Deerman, COSAM. For more on the program, visit: http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/academics/public-health-minor.