At The CVM E-Newsletter

The Women's Basketball Program provided our college with tickets for Auburn's game against Georgia on Sunday, January 31. Coach Nell Fortner has challenged all of the colleges at Auburn University to support women's basketball. The college with the largest participation will receive a $3,000 student scholarship. Veterinary Medicine is also offering a light meal at 4 p.m. at the coliseum for those with complimentary tickets. 

Bridge expected to be closed for several months

Construction on the Wire Road Bridge Replacement Project is expected began in mid-January. The project consists of replacing the existing bridge crossing Choctafaula Creek with a wider bridge that includes two 12-foot lanes for traffic with two-foot shoulders and a protected multi-use path for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. In addition, the existing portion of the Wire Road Bikeway will be extended across the bridge to Chadwick Lane.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-April. During construction, the bridge will be closed to traffic and a portion of Wire Road will be accessible to local traffic only. Residents of Talheim Drive should access their neighborhood via Chadwick Lane. Through traffic will be detoured from Wire Road to Webster Road, onto Alabama Highway 14, to Chadwick Lane, and back to Wire Road. A detour map is available on the City of Auburn's Web site at www.auburnalabama.org. 

Dr. Byron Blagburn is among the leading experts to speak at the American Heartworm Society Symposium to be held April 16-18 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. “State of the Heartworm 2010” will address issues surrounding this potentially fatal disease, which persists even as diagnostic methods advance, preventive therapies improve and disease awareness increases among veterinary professionals and pet owners.

Other confirmed speakers include Dr. Claudio Genchi of the University of Milan, Dr. Clarke Atkins of North Carolina State University, Dr. John McCall of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Speakers will address new developments in the areas of epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical disease, treatment and prevention of heartworm in dogs, cats, wildlife, and other animals. Specific seminars will discuss emerging issues in heartworm, new strategies for prevention and compliance, and potential tools for managing the epidemiological expansion of heartworm. 

“As heartworm becomes increasingly prevalent throughout the country, it is critical that we, as veterinary professionals, come together to confront this trend and protect our cherished companion animals from this preventable disease,” said Dr. Sheldon Rubin, American Heartworm Society president.

• American Heartworm Society Symposium
• April 16-18, 2010
• Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
• To register or to learn more: www.heartwormsociety.org

As part of her four-week externship at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Natalie Steckler (pictured left) is assisting in the rescue of 1200 cold-stunned sea turtles. Dr. Lydia Staggs (right) (AUB ’04) is the staff veterinarian at Gulf World. “Dr. Staggs has overseen the care of all the turtles from the beginning and has put in so much effort to make sure everything goes smoothly,” said Natalie. The cold-stunning event will be the subject of Natalie’s CPC in February.

The Summer Research Fellowship Committee will soon review applications and match students with faculty mentors for the 2010 Merial Veterinary Scholars Program co-sponsored with Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Deadline for applications is February 5.  

1^st- and 2^nd-year veterinary students enrolled in an Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges-accredited D.V.M. curriculum are eligible to apply. Dr. R. Curtis Bird is directing the scholars program.

 Faculty-Staff Fitness Program Revised

Dr. Danielle Wadsworth thanks those who responded to the survey regarding CVM's Faculty-Staff Fitness Program. Based on feedback, the following changes have taken place:

• Afternoon and evening group exercise classes are divided into 25-minute classes to accommodate a variety of schedules. Participants can come and go in the classes, so come even if you are late or have to leave early.
•  An open-circuit training class is added! Alternating stations of cardiovascular and resistance training, called a circuit, are set up in the exercise room. One completion of the circuit equals ten minutes and you can complete as many as you like. The room will be open for 90 minutes so you can come and go based on your schedule. Thursday evening open-circuit begins at 5:30. The circuit will be set up, but Colleen comes from class and may be a few minutes late.
• "Trim Tigers" helps those who want to lose weight or incorporate healthier habits. The program offers weekly nutrition information, recipes, and weight loss tips. Colleen will be available during the open-circuit class to answer any of your questions and to provide one-on-one help with your weight loss needs. A food plan that simplifies the best daily food choices is also incorporated. 
• Weekly blood pressure monitoring
• E-workouts! For those of you who cannot attend the group exercise classes, you can receive a workout via e-mail to complete on your own time with minimal equipment.
• A shower is available in McAdory Hall for use after class.

Attached is the group exercise schedule for spring semester. The program is for all fitness levels. Drop in for a class or contact Dr. Wadsworth at dwadsworth@auburn.edu or 844-1836.

Exercise Schedule (Spring Semester)

To help secure funding for the new Small Animal Teaching Hospital and Education Wing, Hunter Peak joins the College of Veterinary Medicine's development team in February. An Auburn native who completed his B.A. in economics at Auburn in 1986, Peak worked five years as a development officer with the Harrison School of Pharmacy. For the past three years, he has served as a major gifts officer. After graduation, Hunter moved to Atlanta and worked in accounting/finance for Johnson & Higgins and Education Management Corporation, owners of the Art Institute of Atlanta. While in Atlanta, he obtained a B.S. in finance from Kennesaw University. After 12 years in Atlanta he moved to Fort Lauderdale were he worked for Nova Southeastern University as director of scholarships.

The college has launched a Fan Page on Facebook. 

Find us at:http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Auburn-AL/Auburn-University-College-of-Veterinary-Medicine/204594837462?ref=ts or 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 TaraLanier@auburn.edu.

Blood Drive 

• Monday
• February 1st
• 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Greene Hall Lobby

Each donor will be entered into a regional drawing to win a $1,000 gift card.

Picture ID or Donor Card Required to Donate

To Debi Burelle (in the Dept. of Clinical Sciences-Large Animal) and family upon the death of her husband Tom Burelle on January 4.