Ground Breaking for New Small Animal Teaching Hospital and Educational Wing is Dec. 9

The Auburn University Board of Trustees and President Jay Gogue will be part of the ceremonies on Thursday, Dec. 9, as the college breaks ground on the New Small Animal Teaching Hospital and Educational Wing. Activities begin at 2 p.m. on the lawn of Overton/Goodwin marking the spot of the upcoming 34,000-square-foot  classroom building expansion. A reception follows inside.

Construction begins in December with spring 2012 as the targeted completion date.  Three new classrooms, each seating up to 150 people, and small-group meeting and conference rooms will be part of the expansion. Beginning fall semester 2011, the class size will increase from the current 95 to 120, with additional students drawn from the nonresident national pool. Their tuition will help fund the new teaching hospital and educational wing.

Phase two – construction of the New Small Animal Teaching Hospital – is expected to be complete in 2014. The new hospital will feature approximately 200,000 square feet of clinical, examination, and client-use space. The design will offer environmental, earth-friendly advantages over the current space, including more efficient heating and cooling capabilities. Funding for the new hospital is being provided by tuition revenue and both individual and corporate donors.

CVM faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to attend the Dec. 9 ground breaking. “This marks the beginning of a construction project that will span over three years and expend over $70 million,” said Dean Boosinger.

Research targeting the welfare and diseases of animals took center stage November 10 during  Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day. Veterinary and graduate students, interns, and residents presented their studies and findings in poster and lecture formats.

Matthew Breen, BSc., Ph.D., a worldwide known animal geneticist and a professor of genomics at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, presented the keynote address “The Domestic Dog – A Genome with Two Tales.”

The banquet featured the induction of new members into the honor society and awards for the poster and platform competitions. Epsilon Phi Zeta Chapter hosted the day’s activities. Dr. Bernhard Kaltenboeck serves as chapter president.

Newly Inducted Resident or Graduate Student Members

• Manuel Chamorro
• Ghislaine Dujovne
• Emily Graff 
• Erin Groover 
• Benjamin Newcomer
• Jaime Weissman

Awards

• Best Poster Presentation by a Veterinary Student - Suzanne D. Truesdell
• Best Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student - Payal Agarwal    
• Best Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student - David A. Dunn    
• Best Platform Presentation by a Veterinary Student - Brad A. Johnson
• Best Platform Presentation by a Graduate Student- Xiulei Mo
• The most popular poster determined by vote of the public for the Peoples’ Choice Award -Dubraska V. Diaz 

Carolina Medina, D.V.M., chief of the Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Service at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center, will present two lectures at the CVM on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Dr. Medina’s presentation, which begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m., will be held in 203 Greene Hall.

“Trigger Point Therapy” will focus on trigger points, how to diagnose, and how to treat them.  In her lecture on “Tui-na Massage Therapy,” Dr. Medina will explain Tui-na, its clinical indications, techniques, and how to apply these massage techniques to animals.

Dr. Medina will be here to lecture students enrolled in the veterinary elective “Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine” instructed by Dr. Barbara Kemppainen, a professor of toxicology in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology. 

Dr. Medina’s lectures are available free of charge to practicing veterinarians.  For more information e-mail Dr. Kemppainen at kemppbw@auburn.edu.

Drs. Lenore Bacek and Linda Martin are seeking (more) canine volunteers to fulfill a grant provided by the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Foundation.

What:  Determine the effects of different molecular weight synthetic colloids (Hetastarch vs. Voluven) on thromboelastography, as well as standard coagulation parameters. Needed: 15-20 healthy, adult (1-8 years-old), neutered/spayed dogs weighing >20 kgs (~44 lbs.)

When:  Baseline data begins January 2011.  Final dates will be given at the time of the study’s enrollment.  Dogs will be needed for two full days.

How:  To enter the study, a dog must be greater than one-year-old, neutered/spayed, and healthy.  When the study begins, a dog must not be receiving any medications known to interfere with coagulation (i.e. NSAIDS, aspirin, warfarin, etc).

Health will be assessed by PE and lab testing - CBC, chemistry profile, coagulation profile, and thromboelastogram.  After a dog is determined healthy, a sampling catheter will be placed in the lateral saphenous vein to facilitate multiple blood draws. A total of ~40 mls of blood will be drawn over the course of the day. No dog will directly receive any drugs or fluids (all fluids will be mixed with blood in tubes).

Benefits:  Satisfaction of helping further the progress of science, and a free CBC/chemistry profile/coagulation panel, and thromboelastogram.

Contact Dr. Bacek (lmb0011@auburn.edu) or Dr. Martin (lgm0004@auburn.edu) with questions and to enroll your dog in the study.  Full access to the protocol is available, and results of tests will be given to owners if desired when available.

Gather your ideas now for the CVM Door Decoration Contest.  Doors and entry forms must be completed by December 10. Voting takes place December 13-15 online only (one vote per username).  The entry fee is $5 and prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place.  Contest winners will be announced on December 16 during the Dean’s Holiday Party.  For assistance, see any CVM Staff Advisory Committee member.

In the spirit of giving, the College of Veterinary Medicine is assisting the Lee County Humane Society with their in-kind donation needs.  The humane society provides many services by partnering  with the cities of Auburn and Opelika, as well as Lee County, to house stray and unwanted animals. The society also provides adoptions services, educational programs, and community awareness.

Look at the humane society’s needs list, and bring your donation items to the Dean’s Holiday Party on Dec. 16.  Monetary gifts are accepted online http://www.leecountyhumane.org/home/

For questions, ask a CVM Staff Advisory Committee member.

The CVM Staff Advisory Committee acts in an advisory capacity and provides communication between the staff and the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Committee members are non-faculty employees elected by staff within each department/center of the college. Each committee member is responsible for soliciting issues of concern from their respective staff to be brought before the committee and the dean. The committee also assists with various college social functions and plans the CVM employee meetings.

Current members include:

• Judy Woodrow, Chair 
• Vic Walker, Past Chair           
• Ann Anderson (Staff Council Rep)
• Michelle Aono (Staff Council Rep)
• Sharon Bailey
• Sharron Barney
• Diana Childers
• Karie Dalton (Staff Council Rep)
• Chris Ferrell
• Stephen Gulley
• Terri Hathcock
• Tina Holloway
• Tara Lanier
• Stephanie Mitchell
• David Thornton
• Regina Williams (A&P Assembly Rep)

• Dr. Jey Koehler, a resident in anatomic pathology, who recently passed the certifying exam for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
• The Class of 2013 and the Department of Pathobiology – winners of the Bagels for Blood contest on October 6. The Red Cross thanks all those who donated to the blood drive. The College of Veterinary Medicine helped save 114 lives by donating 38 pints of blood.
• Sharron Barney (Clinical Sciences) on the Best of Breed win by her Great Dane “Liza” at the Great Dane Club of America National Specialty show.
• Natalie Royer and Liz Crandall of Clinical Sciences who are featured in a segment for  On The Job which showcases veterinary technicians. The television show provides Alabama citizens with a look at jobs available to them and the education and skills required to get these jobs and improve their lives. Their segment can be viewed online at www.onthejobtv.org. 

Attending the October 1 employee orientation session were Ricardo Irizarry, instructor, Clinical Sciences; Pam Haney, lab technician, Animal Health and Performance Program; Sarah Pauels, large animal/small animal technician, Clinical Sciences; Tina Matthews, large animal/small animal technician, Clinical Sciences; and Lixia Wei, postdoc, Pathobiology.