Frederic J. Hoerr, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Emeritus and former director of the Thompson-Bishop-Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory, has been named interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Hoerr will serve in the position until the search for a permanent dean is completed.

“We are very fortunate to have a person with Dr. Hoerr’s academic and managerial experience in the role of interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Provost Timothy R. Boosinger. “Dr. Hoerr continues to support the academic mission of the college in many important areas, such as poultry diseases, multispecies medicine, and diagnostic pathology.”

Hoerr first joined Auburn University in 1980 as affiliate faculty when he became a veterinary diagnostic specialist with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, C.S. Roberts Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

In 1987 Hoerr was named director of the State Diagnostic Laboratory and professor of avian pathology in the Department of Pathobiology. Under his leadership, the Auburn diagnostic laboratory was built and received accreditation in 2011 by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

Hoerr retired in February 2012 with 31 years of service to the Department of Agriculture and Industries and Auburn University.

“Dr. Hoerr is internationally engaged and widely respected in his ongoing work in poultry diseases and laboratory diagnostics.  He was responsible for achieving the highest national standards for the State Diagnostic Laboratory, and will provide strong and stable leadership for the college during this important period of transition,” said Boosinger.

In 2010 the American Association of Avian Pathologists selected Hoerr for the Phibro Animal Health Excellence in Poultry Research Award which recognizes research in poultry disease and health over a period of 20 years or more.  Hoerr’s contributions to the understanding of avian diseases, specifically immunosuppressive diseases, spans over 30 years.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Hoerr served as president of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians and the American Association of Avian Pathologists.

Hoerr received his D.V.M. degree from Purdue University in 1976 completing a master’s degree in 1977.  He entered a pathology residency/graduate program working on mycotoxin diseases of poultry earning a Ph.D. from Purdue in 1981.  In 2011, Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine presented Hoerr its distinguished alumnus award.

James G. Floyd, Jr. has been named interim director of the Animal Health and Performance Program (AHPP) effective Sept. 18. Dr. Floyd succeeds Dr. Robert Gillette who is pursuing veterinary sports medicine in a private practice.

AHPP includes the Canine Detection Research Institute and the Richard G. and Dorothy A. Metcalf Veterinary Sports Medicine Program.

A West Point graduate, Dr. Floyd received his D.V.M. from Louisiana State University in 1981.  He completed residency training at the University of Illinois in 1988 where he earned a Master of Science degree.  He became board-certified by the American College of Theriogenologists in 1989. 

From 1988 to 2001, Dr. Floyd served on the faculty of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Auburn University. He established the El Toro Award for Excellence in Food Animal Medicine at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 in memory of his father J.G. Floyd.

In 2001 he joined the faculty at North Carolina State University where he served as head of the Department of Farm Animal Health and Resource Management, and head of the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology. Floyd retired as a professor at North Carolina State in 2011.

His military deployments include Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.  For his service in the U.S. Army, he received the Bronze Star Medal in 2011.  He is the recipient of the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award and he was named Alabama Veterinarian of the Year in 1993.

The college held a retirement reception on Sept. 25 in Overton to honor Dr. Donna Angarano, associate dean for academic affairs, who retired Oct. 1 with 26 years’ service to Auburn University.  “Dr. A” served as associate dean for 15 years interacting with veterinary students from admission to graduation. She joined the college in 1986 as associate professor in dermatology in the Department of Small Animal Surgery and Medicine (now the Department of Clinical Sciences).  A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, Dr. Angarano received her D.V.M. from the University of Missouri and her residency training from Cornell University. She is a past recipient of the Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year.

Dr. Dan Givens, Alumni Professor at Auburn University, was named interim associate dean of academic affairs. His appointment is effective until a search can be completed for a permanent associate dean.

The Committee of 19 is an Auburn University student organization focusing on ending hunger (locally and globally) through awareness, service, and fundraising initiatives. The Committee of 19 has designated Oct. 15-19 as Hunger Week. This annual campus-wide event draws attention to the local and global needs of individuals and families who are suffering from food insecurity.

During Hunger Week, Committee of 19 subcommittees at Auburn colleges and schools will host events centering on particular purposes, strengths, and skills. Because the CVM enthusiastically supports the One Health Initiative, the Committee of 19 CVM subcommittee will host a series of veterinary and human medicine-themed events.

Events include:

• Feed Lee In Need (Fe.L.I.Ne) Project, Oct. 12, Zoe’s Kitchen, 5-9 p.m. only.  Zoe’s Kitchen will donate 10% of profits from receipts placed in the register fishbowl to the Food Bank of East Alabama.
• Breakfast Bake for Banks (VETamin B3). Vitamin deficiency is a major consequence to insufficient food intake. Wouldn't it be "niacin" if we could provide more nutrient-complete meals for those in need? The CVM subcommittee will host a breakfast bake sale with all proceeds donated to the Food Bank of East Alabama. Date TBA.
• “Why do EWE Care about Hunger?” Pictures are worth a 1,000 meals! Share your reasons for fighting against hunger on the Web site Why Care?, an international campaign focused on sparking a global conversation about hunger.
• “I Volunteer!” (I.V.). What's Hunger Week without volunteering?! CVM faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to sign up at the Food Bank of East Alabama where many volunteer opportunities exist.

The Committee of Nineteen CVM subcommittee will provide information on other Hunger Week events taking place on main campus. For more information, contact India Napier, representative for the CVM. 

The American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education is recognized as the accrediting body for schools and programs that offer the professional D.V.M. degree. The Council evaluates each college of veterinary medicine in terms of the degree with which it meets its own stated objectives and the established criteria for accreditation. To maintain accreditation, veterinary colleges must provide an extensive self-evaluation and arrange for a site visit at intervals of not more than seven years

The AVMA Council on Education completed their site visit to our campus Sept. 16-20. In response, Dr. Calvin Johnson issued this message:

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students of the CVM:

I want to thank you for your many contributions to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s programs, which were evaluated by the AVMA Council on Education site visit team two weeks ago.  A sense of pride among the students, staff, and faculty was evident at every step along the way. On Friday, I received a draft report from the site visit team.  Here are some of the strengths that were noted: 

• Students are enthusiastic about the program and highly supportive of the faculty and administration.
• Faculty is collaborative and very supportive of students.
• The college administration is commended for creating a culture of inclusion and shared governance that is flexible and responsive to faculty and student needs.
• The provost’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of the veterinary college is a unique strength.
• Modern, well-equipped classrooms, laboratories, and study rooms in Overton Hall provide an exceptional environment for student learning.
• The large animal isolation facility is very well-designed and effectively managed.
• The college is commended for effective use of its teaching herds to supplement clinical resources.
• Collaborative agreements with local shelters have greatly enhanced first and second year clinical skills laboratories and second and third year surgical laboratories.
• The college is commended for hiring a dedicated client advocate in the teaching hospital to enhance client satisfaction, promote referrals, and facilitate development efforts.
• The college is commended for its investment in appropriate staffing for support of educational technology.
• Collaboration with the Thompson-Bishop-Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory provides an excellent resource for student learning.
• The school is commended for providing student exposure to research in the professional program and creating a culture that embraces the importance of research and life-long learning.
• The eight-week preceptorship at the end of the fourth year and extensive post-preceptorship interview process provide a unique capstone event for graduating seniors and valuable opportunity for curricular assessment.

In the coming weeks and months, we will work together to address some recommendations made by the site visit team.  These are all quite manageable, and I am confident that the AVMA Council on Education will vote during its fall meeting on Oct. 7-9, 2012 to extend our college’s full accreditation.

Thank you once again for your individual and collective efforts to ensure the success and continuous improvement of our great program.

Sincerely,

Calvin Johnson

Last year over 43,000 residents of Lee County received services through the United Way.

Shelter and social services were provided to 1,074 in need. Over 96 victims of domestic violence were served. 873,234 lbs. of food were distributed to residents in need. 480 hours of therapy were provided to victims of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. Mentoring and in-school prevention programs were provided for more than 3,000 youth….

Pledge cards have been distributed to university employees. As you complete your pledge card, please remember to include your employee number and to sign the bottom of the card. (As a reminder, anyone who gives $240 or more – an average of $20/month – will receive a discount card to be used throughout the year for discounts and promotions to local businesses).  Drawings for prizes will be held for those who participate, so return your pledge card early.

New employees of the College of Veterinary Medicine attending orientation in August were:

• Dr. Brad Matz, clinical lecturer, Clinical Sciences
• Jessica Abney, animal care attendant, Clinical Sciences
• Sara Beth Bordelon, assistant clinical professor, Clinical Sciences
• Robert Cole, assistant professor, Clinical Sciences

Dating all the way back to World War II, Auburn University's student body and members of the Student Government Association pushed for a day that would unite the Auburn Family and promote a friendly atmosphere known as Hey Day. On Oct. 3, members of the CVM Family greeted one another with the Auburn spirit in effort to bring all of those part of Auburn closer together.