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Frances Coleman (Submitted photo)

STARKVILLE, Miss.After a career that spanned over a half-century and witnessed the services and offerings of Mississippi State University Libraries evolve from traditional to digital to virtual, MSU Dean of Libraries Frances N. Coleman is retiring from the university on June 30, MSU Executive Vice President and Provost David R. Shaw announced today [June 15].

Shaw said MSU College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Thomas P. Anderson will serve as interim MSU Dean of Libraries while a national search for a permanent dean is conducted.

Coleman, responsible for the university library system that includes Mitchell Memorial Library and branch libraries at MSUs College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Architecture (Starkville and Jackson campuses) and MSU-Meridian, led unprecedented expansions of facilities, technologies and programming throughout the system.

Dean Coleman provided visionary leadership for our MSU Libraries that not only improved library services on our campuses, but in libraries across Mississippi. My mother was a small-town librarian, and she and all her colleagues knew and respected Frances Coleman, said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. On her watch, our libraries became larger, stronger, more technologically accessible, and more sophisticated in terms of our museums and special collections. In short, Frances has left indelible fingerprints on our library system, and I am profoundly grateful for the outstanding work she has done for our university.

Shaw echoed Keenums praise for Colemans five decades of leadership.

Over the course of her life and work here at Mississippi State, Dean Coleman has paved the way for women moving into positions of substantial leadership. The personal and professional esteem in which she is held by colleagues across the country, and particularly in our state, is indicative of her many accomplishments, Shaw said. It is an honor to have served with her to advance Mississippi State.

Coleman joined the MSU faculty in 1969. She earned an MSU Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Library Science from George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University. She completed additional graduate studies at MSU and at the University of Mississippi.

Prior to her career in higher education, Coleman was a classroom teacher and school librarian in the Dyer County, Tennessee School System. She also worked in the banking field in Dyersburg and Memphis, Tennessee, and in Starkville.

She is a past president or chair of the Mississippi Business and Professional Women, the Southeastern Library Association, and the Mississippi Library Association. Coleman was active throughout her career in numerous research library organizations.

In the Starkville community, Coleman has served in key leadership roles in Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Starkville Chamber of Commerce, Starkville Arts Council, Starkville Rotary Club, and the United Way. In 2003, she was honored for lifetime achievement serving Mississippi libraries by the Mississippi Legislature, received the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Excellence in Leadership Award in 2009 from the Montgomery Foundation Board of Directors, and in 2010 received the John Y. Simon Award of Merit from the Ulysses S. Grant Association.

Coleman played a pivotal role in the successful 2008 transfer of the Ulysses S. Grant Collection from the Morris Library at Southern Illinois University, where it had been housed since 1964. With the relocation to MSUs Mitchell Memorial Library, she became a member of the USGA board of directors.

The relocation of the Grant Collection ultimately led to the establishment at MSU of one of only six presidential libraries on U.S. university campuses. On Nov. 30, 2017, state and national leaders heralded the opening of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the prestigious Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolnianaa recent donation that is considered the largest privately owned Abraham Lincoln collection in America.

Leaders in education, history, libraries and governmentincluding the Librarian of Congress and the Archivist of the United Statespraised the 21,000-square-foot addition. The facility contains a state-of-the-art museum chronicling Grants life and his significance in American history. With hundreds of thousands of historical documents and items housed on-site, the new addition positioned MSU as a leading destination for research on the Civil War and two presidents who shaped the course of American history.

Dean Colemans legacy will be that of a dedicated administrator who gave her all to advance Mississippi State University and to exhibit grace, charm, and sincere hospitality in using the librarys formidable assets to bring new friends to the university, said Keenum.

For more on MSU Libraries, visit http://lib.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippis leading university, available online at http://www.msstate.edu.

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Legendary MSU Dean Frances Coleman retires after a 51-year career that transformed the university's libraries and collections - Mississippi State...

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Every century the world will witness a major pandemic. Most active clinicians and researchers alike only have knowledge of the Spanish flu pandemic from medical history. At that time, the exact viral cause of the disease was not known, and neither was there a therapy nor a vaccine. Today, 102 years later, SARS-CoV-2 has infected millions of patients all over the world, with over 400,000 deaths at the time of writing. Pneumonia has interviewed Frank van Kuppeveld and Berend Jan Bosch from Utrecht University, and Manish Sagar at Boston University School of Medicine, to hear their views on the cause and consequences, the present and the future of this new corona virus, SARS-CoV-2.

BJB: Currently there are 4 circulating coronaviruses in humans. They cause common colds and (therefore) never received much attention from the medical community.

FK: A typical illustration for this statement is that 2 of the circulating corona viruses, NL63 and HKU1, were only identified after the outbreak of SARS-CoV-1.

BJB: In the veterinary world (pigs, chickens, cows, cats) corona viruses are more serious pathogens, and therefore have been studied more extensively. An older brother of SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in China in 2003 was SARS-CoV, an example of a zoonotic virus which has jumped to humans and subsequently it spread from human to human. MERS-CoV mainly spreads among dromedaries, and occasionally crosses the species barrier to humans. However, the spread of this virus among humans is limited. Case fatality rate of SARS-CoV-1 is 10%; for MERS the reported 35% case-fatality rate is probably over-estimated, because many more people will have been infected. The seroprevalence of MERS antibodies in Saudi Arabia suggests that the virus is more widespread.

Current epidemiological data for SARS-CoV-2 are still relatively scarce but could point towards a case fatality rate of 1%. Another difference between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 is that the former mainly spreads during the moment of active disease and only the latter can be spread by presymptomatic persons. Nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-1 has been limited.

FK: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS mainly infect the cells in the lower respiratory tract, whereas SARS-CoV-2 (also) infects the upper respiratory tract. This characteristic contributes to the ease of spreading. SARS-CoV-2s stronger binding to the ACE-2 receptor (although this is still debated) is another difference. There are additional differences in the structure of the Spike protein.

MS: As mentioned earlier, SARS-CoV-2 shares some similarities and has some significant differences with the other pathogenic coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-1, MERS, HKU-1, OC43, NL63, and 229E. First, it should be noted that SARS-CoV-2 has achieved a sweet spot for a virus. Unlike SARS-CoV-1 and MERS, after establishing infection, it does not immediately make the host sick.

Furthermore, unlike SARS-CoV-1 and MERS, it does not make the infected person deathly ill. The case fatality rate for SARS-CoV-2 is much lower than SARS-CoV-1 and MERS. This is ideal for the virus because it increases transmission efficiency. Unlike the common cold coronaviruses (OC43, NL63, 229E, and HKU-1), it is more lethal and thus has had and will have a major impact on human populations. SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 cellular receptor for cell entry, and SARS-CoV-1 and NL63 also use this receptor. This suggests that cellular entry and presumably tropism is not the primary distinguishing factor among these viruses.

The highly pathogenic coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS) all appear to initiate an intense and possibly inappropriately delayed innate immune response, which may be directly correlated to the observed morbidity and mortality. The common cold coronaviruses may not induce a similar innate immune response. The mechanistic basis for this discrepancy remains uncertain, but it appears to be a major difference among the highly pathogenic versus more benign human coronaviruses.

FK: Furthermore there are major differences in the demographics of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 patients. SARS-CoV-1 patients were adults >25 years of age, around 60% women, and without specific preference for the elderly. The reason for this is unknown.

FK: This is a major and important question, for which the answers are still largely unknown. Indeed, most viral or bacterial pneumonia patients are hospitalized for on average 7 days. As compared to SARS-CoV-1 and influenza, SARS-CoV-2 also causes a severe cytokine storm. It has been suggested that a difference can be found in interferon response: SARS-CoV-1 is a potent inducer of mainly type 1 and 3; SARS-CoV-2 actively replicates in lung cells but hardly induces interferons. Another factor which may play a role is local vascular leakage and angioedema.

MS: I think one of the most enlightening studies for the possible mechanism for severe pneumonia is from investigators at Washington University in St. Louis. In mouse models, they demonstrated that in mice with an early innate immune response (primarily driven by monocytes and macrophages), there is limited lung pathology and morbidity. In contrast, mice that have a delayed innate immune response have high morbidity and lung damage. The lung damage is characterized by infiltration by activated monocytes and macrophages in the lung. Interestingly, this phenomenon appears to be different from other respiratory viruses, such as influenza.

Furthermore, this difference is not driven by a major difference in virus replication. The mechanistic basis for understanding why some infected people have a delayed and robust innate immune response many days after SARS-CoV-2 infection is one of the most interesting and likely useful research avenues. It will provide an important insight about the cause of severe pneumonia.

In mice, attenuating the innate immune response after infection appears to diminish morbidity and mortality. In humans also, use of immune modulators, such as IL-6 receptor and IL-1 receptor blockers, appears to provide benefit. GR: All in all, the (immuno)pathology of COVID-19 may have the characteristics of a Macrophage Activation Syndrome.

BJB: It is disappointing that many of the potential drugs (existing and developed) for which the hopes were high, now in practice show no (such as with hydroxychloroquine) or limited effectivity. Preliminary data indicate that Remdesivir reduces the duration of intensive care treatment from 15 to 11 days, but show little effect on mortality.

BJB: Like active vaccination, also passive immunization requires all 3 phases of clinical testing before it can be applied. Scaling is a major issue: administration of convalescent serum can turn out to be an effective treatment but certainly not for large groups of patients (read more here and here). Defined monoclonal antibodies against relevant epitopes could be used in selected patients, but not as preventive treatment for large populations.

MS: I dont see a massive role for passive vaccination. Given the massive number of infected and susceptible people, convalescent plasma as a generalized prophylaxis and treatment is not feasible. At this time, it is difficult to determine which plasma is appropriate for therapy and possibly treatment because there are no standardized measures for assessing neutralization potency. The costs and logistics associated with convalescent plasma make it unfeasible as a solution for the masses. Synthetic single, or a cocktail of, monoclonal antibodies are more feasible although still likely cost-prohibitive.

That said, understanding the impact of monoclonal antibodies and antibodies present in convalescent serum is very important. It will provide unique scientific insights for understanding antibody-based prevention and treatment. It can be used in specific cases, but it is not likely relevant as a mass treatment or prevention strategy.

BJB: It cannot be excluded that there is a certain degree of cross-reactivity between antibodies induced by circulating coronaviruses and the current SARS-CoV-2. Whether this would lead to relative protection or to a more serious disease is a question that can not be answered right now. Aminoacid homology of Spike proteins between circulating coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 is low. S1, the globular top domain of the Spike protein is highly variable and shows no antigenic cross-reactivity between the various coronaviruses; S2 is the stalk with a more conserved sequence. But even among the conserved S2 regions, thus far no antibodies have been found that bind to both alpha and beta coronaviruses.

MS: SARS-CoV-2 will most probably continue to infect the human population. First, there is a large portion of the human population that remains susceptible. It is estimated based on the R0, that around 66% of the human population would have to prior infection to obtain some form of herd immunity. Among the previously infected patients, I suspect that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to infect people. The SARS-CoV-2 spike will continue undergoing minor modifications that limit the neutralization capacity of pre-existing antibodies. With re-infection, however, I suspect that the disease course will be milder than previous disease. I base these predictions on evolution of influenza within human population.

FK: The target population for severe COVID-19 are the elderly. Two to five centuries ago, that target population was much smaller in size, and first exposure to the virus would have taken place at a younger age. NL63, like SARS-CoV-2 also an ACE2 receptor entering coronavirus, now is a common cold virus. Accessory viral genes which may determine the interaction with the immune system could play a role.

BJB: We have to keep in mind that we are dealing with a novel virus, which made its entry into an immunological nave population. Virgin soil epidemic is the term coined by Alfred W. Crosby for this situation. Over time this will change, also with development of herd immunity and exposure at an early age, with consequence for the pattern of morbidity and mortality. At the same time, this may impact the behavior of the virus. For 229E coronavirus, mutations hotspots are found in the spike protein domains which are essential for viral entry into the cell.

FK: The only criterion for viral evolution is the degree of spreading, and SARS-CoV-2 has been extremely successful in that respect.

MS: I suspect that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to infect human populations because it has established a strong foothold. As already stated earlier, I think we will have seasonal infections but re-infections in previously infected hosts will lead to a milder clinical syndrome. It is hard to know if SARS-CoV-2 will have similar benign phenotype as the common coronaviruses in the next 50 years or longer.

Prof. Frank van Kuppeveld is Professor of Molecular Virology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University in Utrecht, The Netherlands. His research focuses on the method of replication of RNA viruses in host cells. Specifically, he studies how these viruses are able to hijack certain cellular factors and structures in order to replicate their RNA genome. He also researches how these viruses are able to suppress the cells antiviral resistance mechanisms. His current research focuses on 1) virus structure, receptors and entry mechanisms, 2) viral genome replication, 3) development of antiviral drugs, and 4) innate host responses and viral countermeasures.

Dr. Berend-Jan Bosch is Associate Professor of Molecular Coronavirology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. He studies coronaviruses: a group of viruses that may occasionally switch host species and can jump from mammals or birds to humans. Bosch is currently researching an antibody that blocks infection by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in cells. Bosch is trying to comprehend the interaction between coronaviruses and their hosts, be they animals or humans. How do viruses infect their hosts? How do viruses avoid their hosts immune responses? How do viruses jump from animals to humans and cause disease? With a detailed understanding, it will become possible to develop drugs and vaccines.

Dr. Manish Sagar is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine. His laboratory is interested in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in particular to understand the biological mechanisms for the selection observed during HIV-1 transmission.Laboratory studies explore the hypothesis that during transmission there is selection of specific variants with properties that confer fitness for transmission. Another focus in the lab is to decipher correlates of immune protection. Dr. Sagar has served on numerous committees including NIH study sections and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Early Career Development Award Review Committee. He is an active member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

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The more neurotic and anxious cat owners are, the more trust and affection they have for their cat, researchers say.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have many people feeling anxious. But if you happen to own a cat, they may be benefiting from your anxiety.

Our study finds that anxiousness may be a positive trait to have because it is associated with trust and affection for a cat, coauthor Mikel Delgado, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

a tendency toward negative emotions will affect any relationship, including a relationship with a cat.

Delgado and coauthor Gretchen Reevy, a psychologist with California State University, East Bay, conducted an online, anonymous survey of 1,239 cat owners. Of the participants, 87% were female. The survey asked questions about how worthy people felt of their cats love, how available and trustworthy they felt their cat was, and their general feelings of affection toward their cat.

While higher scores on neuroticism and anxiety could benefit a relationship with ones cat, the study shows that higher scores on most negative emotions, especially depression, were related to feeling less worthy of their cats love. Previous studies have found similar results in romantic relationships and friendships.

If you are prone to depression, youre seeing everything through that lens, Delgado says. This shows that a tendency toward negative emotions will affect any relationship, including a relationship with a cat.

In contrast, the way in which negative emotions influenced feelings of trust in a relationship depended on whether the relationship was with a human or cat. In human relationships, depression decreased the feeling that a friend or partner was trustworthy.

Anger decreased the feeling that a cat was trustworthy, and anxiety increased the feeling.

Delgado says she embarked on the study to understand what can help people have a better bond with their pet. A lot of that can be influenced by human behavior.

While were sheltering at home during coronavirus, our cats may be our sole companions. Theyre important to our lives, she says. But problems with the human-cat relationship put cats at risk for ending up in animal shelters.

Reevy says its important to understand that our personalities can affect how we bond with our pets.

Cats can be wonderful companions and sources of comfort, and it looks like a persons personality affects their tendency to appreciate, enjoy, and hopefully benefit emotionally from a relationship with a cat, Reevy says.

The authors are currently comparing peoples romantic relationships with their relationships with their cat. People interested in participating in the study can click here to learn more.

The study appears in the journal Anthrozos. Support for the research came from Maddies Fund.

Source: UC Davis

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Anxious people tend to really love their cats - Futurity: Research News

A team of researchers in the UK has discovered that some individuals of the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), particularly those affected by myocardial fibrosis, have a rare small bone called os cordis in their heart.

High-resolution microCT image of the chimpanzees os cordis. Image credit: Moitti et al, doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66345-7.

The presence of an os cordis is a regular finding in large ruminants such as cattle, ox, water buffalos and sheep. Otters and camels sometimes have this bone too. But this is the first time that the os cordis has been discovered in a great ape.

Cartilage (cartilago cordis) can also be present within the cardiac skeleton of individuals of other animal species such as horses, pigs, dogs, cats, mice, rats, snakes, white rhinoceros and Syrian hamsters.

Although the exact localization, size and number of the os cordis varies, in all species it lies within a band of fibrous tissue called trigonum fibrosum.

Its function is unclear but it is believed to serve as a pivot and anchoring support for the heart valves.

The discovery of a new bone in a new species is a rare event, especially in chimps which have such similar anatomy to people, said studys senior author Dr. Catrin Rutland, a researcher in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham.

It raises the question as to whether some people could have an os cordis too.

Dr. Rutland and colleagues compared the structure and morphology of 16 hearts from chimpanzees which were either healthy or affected by myocardial fibrosis, a type of heart disease found in chimps and people.

To study the organs, the researchers used X-ray microtomography (microCT), a non-destructive X-ray imaging technique that produces 3D images from 2D trans-axial projections.

They found the os cordis bones, measuring a few millimeters in size, and cartilago cordis in four hearts. Their presence was not associated with age nor with sex.

Looking for ways to help chimps with heart disease is essential, said first author Dr. Sophie Moitti, from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham and Twycross Zoo.

Understanding what is happening to their hearts helps us manage their health.

This research has brought together researchers and veterinary professionals, working on a common aim to advance chimpanzee health and conservation, Dr. Rutland said.

The discovery is described in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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S. Moitti et al. 2020. Discovery of os cordis in the cardiac skeleton of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Sci Rep 10, 9417; doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66345-7

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Some Chimpanzees Have Tiny Bone in Their Heart | Anatomy, Biology - Sci-News.com

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:

Building a new veterinary program requires a great team. Not surprisingly, behind the development of theTexas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillowas collaborative team from across the breadth of theTexas Tech University System. Each team member used their expertise to inform the argument of the need for and the shape of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Any good team is an inclusive one in which its members know the game plan and how to contribute their expertise toward achieving the goal. For success, the team needed diverse expertise that extended well beyond veterinary medical education. For success, the school needed truly outstanding expertise in the economics of veterinary education and the veterinary profession. It just so happened that Texas Tech has that expert, and he answered the call in 2015.

At that time, Ryan Williams was a professor of economics in theTexas Tech UniversityCollege of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources(CASNR). He led the economic analysis of the veterinary educational and professional need for Texas Tech to start the School of Veterinary Medicine, which was presented to theTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Our school is the success it is because of Ryan, saidGuy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Five years ago, Ryan stepped into a meeting in the Chancellors conference room with his shirt untucked and threw his all into the project. When it comes to the School of Veterinary Medicine, he has so much skin in the game, so to speak. Ryan helped shape the school. I am just so excited he joined the school as we look forward to welcoming the first class in the fall of 2021. It is a privilege to work with someone like Ryan. He typifies the values we hold dear.

Williams is now one of the founding faculty members of the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine as an associate professor of economics and public policy. He began his duties on June 1.

The more I evaluated the data, the more convinced I became that if the citizenry of Texas are supporting the education of veterinarians for the good of the people, then a new school with a different approach to training was warranted, Williams said. Having had the opportunity to be involved with the development of this school from very early in the process, I am thrilled to continue serving the mission the School of Veterinary Medicine represents for Texas Tech University and the state of Texas. I am dedicated to ensuring that, as the school grows, we remain committed to a culture that prioritizes the success of our students and their commitment to community.

Williams has spent the last nine years in theDepartment of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the last four years with a joint appointment with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research agency in Lubbock. His research has involved water resources and rural communities and the application of natural resource and environmental economic methodologies to One Health research.

His interest in veterinary medicine stems from when he provided consulting services to the American Veterinary Medical Association. He is interested in investigating the market structure for various veterinary clinic types and exploring consumer demand for veterinary services and the goods and services supported by veterinary services in their supply chains.

Williams, a native of northern California, earned his bachelors degree from Emory University and his masters degree from North Carolina State University before earning his doctorate ineconomicsfrom Texas Tech and joining the faculty as a visiting assistant professor in 2009. He also has worked as a financial consultant for Bank of America.

At the end of the day, veterinary medicine is a business just like other medical health professions, saidJohn Dascanio, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs. It is extremely important that students understand both personal financial decisions and also that financial decisions within a veterinary practice may affect their ability to practice medicine. The effects of the global economy on veterinary clientele often times dictate medical decisions. Dr. Williams will help to lead our program to integrate financial and economic decision making throughout our program.

Williams becomes the 14th faculty member for the School of Veterinary Medicine. He joins Loneragan, Dascanio, associate dean for clinical programsBritt Conklin, professor of surgeryDavid Dutton, assistant professor of general veterinary practiceBethany Schilling, professor of medicineLszl Hunyadi, professor of surgeryNancy Zimmerman, visiting professorJerry Black, associate professor of Library and Information SciencesHoward Rodriguez-Mori, assistant professor of curriculum and assessmentMarcelo Schmidt, associate professor of microbiologyJason Fritzler, assistant professor for microbiologyAlexandra Calleand associate professor of anatomyJoshua Roweon the faculty for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Additional faculty members will be added over the summer and fall.

Thanks to the generosity of Amarillo and communities across Texas, and the commitment of legislators from around the state, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, established in 2018, is working to enroll its first class in the fall of 2021, pending approval by the AVMA Council on Education.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will recruit and select students with a passion to practice and succeed in rural and regional communities. Its curriculum is focused on the competencies and skills necessary for success in practices that support these communities. Texas Techs innovative and cost-efficient model partners with the wider community of veterinary practices across the state to provide clinical, real-world experiential learning.

In June 2019,Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the biennial state budget, which appropriated $17.35 million for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillothat will go toward operational needs in order to get the school up and running. The appropriation included language directing Texas Tech to move forward in establishing the school.

(News release from Texas Tech University)

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Economics and public policy expert joins Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Jos Arce is one of the first natives of the U.S. commonwealth to serve on the AVMA Board of Directors. He will achieve another first this summer when the AVMA House of Delegates elects him as the 2020-21 president-elect and next in line for the AVMA presidency. He is the sole candidate for the office of president-elect and will succeed Dr. Douglas Kratt as AVMA president in 2021.

A 1997 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Arce is president and co-owner of Miramar Animal Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His wife, Dr. Anik Puig, is also a veterinarian.

Dr. Arce was a member of the HOD from 2000 until joining the AVMA Board in 2014. He recently talked to JAVMA News about what he hopes to accomplish as AVMA president. The following answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

A. I have been an active participant in organized veterinary medicine for the past 26 years, holding numerous leadership positions in the Student AVMA throughout my years in veterinary school and later at the state level in the Puerto Rico VMA and nationally both in the AVMA House and on the AVMA Board.

In my capacity as District IV director on the Board, I have served or continue to serve as liaison to a long list of councils, committees, advisory panels, and AVMA trusts; as chair of the Committee on International Veterinary Affairs; and on the American Veterinary Medical Foundation board of directors.

These experiences, together with my diverse background, have given me a unique perspective and in-depth knowledge of the AVMA and the issues facing the veterinary profession. Additionally, they have taught me to be an inclusive, forward-thinking, and strategic leader.

I will do my best to lead by example, and hopefully my presidency will send a message of inclusiveness and inspire other minorities to become involved in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. Jos Arce, candidate for 2020-21 AVMA president-elect

Veterinary medicine has provided me many opportunities to meet veterinarians from all corners of the world, with whom I have had profound conversations regarding our profession. These experiences and interactions have prepared me to become an effective AVMA president and to carry the torch of my predecessors in protecting, promoting, and advancing veterinary medicine.

A strong veterinary profession needs a strong AVMA, and as president, I will be committed to working in conjunction with our leadership, our volunteers, and the AVMA staff to optimize the way we serve our members in order to make a difference in the lives of present and future veterinarians.

A. Growing up, my father was involved in organized medicine and served in the Puerto Rico Medical Association and in the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association, so it was natural for me to become involved in organized veterinary medicine. During my first year as District IV director on the AVMA Board, we worked on the new AVMA branding and the tag line: Our Passion. Our Profession.

It might sound corny, but thats exactly how I feel about veterinary medicine. I am truly passionate about our profession, and I cherish every opportunity to educate, promote, and advocate for our profession, whether it is in a kindergarten classroom or with members of the U.S. Congress.

A. I am extremely proud of my Puerto Rican and Spanish roots; they are an intricate part of who I am and my perspective towards all things in life. Becoming a Hispanic and minority president of AVMA will be an honor, but it also comes with some responsibility. I will do my best to lead by example, and hopefully my presidency will send a message of inclusiveness and inspire other minorities to become involved in organized veterinary medicine. The AVMA must continue to strive for greater diversity and inclusiveness as it gives strength to our voice as advocates for veterinary medicine. It is also imperative that we promote veterinary medicine as a suitable career choice for underrepresented groups, both in ethnicity and type of practice.

A. The president of AVMA must be an effective communicator, not just a promoter of our Association. When I first served on the AVMA House of Delegates almost two decades ago, I would frequently give my thoughts and opinions at our meetings about the issues at hand. With time, I have become an active listenerdeferring judgement, providing feedback as needed, and responding appropriately and respectfully.

The AVMA president must be a respected voice for the profession and be able to represent AVMA and the veterinary profession, not just to our members but also to government, industry, international veterinary associations, and the public. I truly believe that I have earned that respect of others through my hard work and commitment to the AVMA for the past 26 years.

Personally, I see myself as creative, empathetic, adaptable, positive, and optimistic. I also have a great sense of humor, which helps me connect with others.

A. As a member of the Board, I participated in the difficult decision to cancel AVMA Convention 2020. It was a sad decision for us because we knew we would not be able to experience and celebrate the events of convention together with our colleagues. We also knew that canceling convention was the right decision and the only way to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all our convention participants.

Now, AVMA Convention 2020, the HOD summer session, and the election of officers will be held virtually instead of in person in San Diego.

We know of several state and international veterinary meetings that have been canceled or postponed until 2021. We do not yet know how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last, whether there will be a second wave in the fall and a third next spring, when a vaccine will be available, and how long travel restrictions, quarantines, and social distancing rules will continue to be in effect. All these factors will play a role in deciding if we will be able to begin holding small, in-person meetings in the early fall and hopefully larger gatherings such as the AVMA Economic Summit later in the year.

So, yes, COVID-19 will have an effect on my year as president-elect, as several of the meetings that officers would have attended have been or will probably be canceled or held virtually.

As leaders of this Association, we have an opportunity to become our most innovative, adaptive, and resilient selves in facing all the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic throws at us and making decisions that will be in the best interests of our members.

I take my hat off to the AVMA staff for working tirelessly in order to provide factual, up-to-the-minute information and resources to assist veterinarians in providing services during the present pandemic and supporting their well-being during this time of uncertainty and distress.

A. AVMA members should look forward to a president who is passionate and deeply committed to our profession, and who assumes a leadership role in facing the problems that affect veterinary medicine.

They should expect a president addressing news media frequently and communicating to the public the importance and value of veterinary medicine in enhancing peoples lives, and how the human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship between animals and people.

They should also expect a president who focuses on effectively communicating the benefits and values of the AVMA to our members, as well as improve the internal communication between AVMA leadership and staff, and our volunteers on councils and committees.

AVMA members should anticipate a president who is a team player and who will work in collaboration with the Board and House to build consensus and promote a culture of unity; who is not afraid to speak his mind, but who, at the same time, is an active listener, and is willing to change his mind.

A. Veterinary medicine continues to face daunting economic challenges and societal demands. High educational debt, income concerns such as low starting salaries, scope-of-practice issues, an unfavorable work-life balance, and uncertainty about retirement all contribute to wellness issues within our profession.

At the global leveland because the interconnections among animals, people, and the environment have become more significant and impactful than everwe are facing new challenges. The present pandemic is a perfect example of that.

At the same time, we need to address and take advantage of new and developing technologies that are affecting the practice of veterinary medicine such as telehealth, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, biosensors, and the proper use of mobile medical devices. These innovative technologies are developing and evolving rapidly. We must quickly adapt to these changes to remain relevant, while maintaining the integrity of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and understanding how all of these things impact the standard of care.

As they say, with challenge comes opportunity. The present pandemic is a perfect example of that. The AVMA, state VMAs, and veterinarians nationally and worldwide have been at the forefront, helping educate the public about SARS-CoV-2. Several veterinary schools are conducting studies on SARS-CoV-2, some are developing vaccines against the novel coronavirus, and some are assisting state governments in testing humans for the COVID-19 virus. All this work shows how veterinary medicine can bring unique value to biomedical research and public health. This pandemic has also demonstrated the need for the implementation of one-health practices and measures to improve the response to and reduce the emergence of pandemic viruses.

A. The AVMA should prominently communicate the values of our profession and educate the public about all aspects of veterinary medicine, and our leaders and volunteers at all levels should constantly promote and advocate for our profession through the traditional news media outlets and social media.

We must work together to foster an environment that promotes the mental health, emotional well-being, and personal happiness of our members, both at work and at home.

The AVMA must also be a global leader in one health and contribute to the development of policies and guidelines in all aspects of veterinary medicine. We must cultivate relationships and work in unison with other global veterinary associations and intergovernmental entities to support public health, animal health, and welfare around the world.

A. I would like to be remembered as a strong leader who represented our members and advocated for our profession well and inspired others to do the same; and who left behind an AVMA that is better prepared to meet the needs of society while protecting, promoting, and advancing a unified veterinary profession.

A. I am a strong advocate of the concept of the AVMA family, and if elected president, as the primary spokesperson of the AVMA, I will take this message of the AVMA family everywhere I go. Whether it is the House of Delegates and all the state VMAs and allied groups that are part of it, the Board, AVMF, AVMA Political Action Committee, SAVMA, and now Veterinary Medical Association Executives and National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, we need to strategically work in unison to be a more effective organization.

Correction: This article incorrectly identified the Puerto Rico VMA board in Dr. Jos Arces response to, What skills and qualifications do you bring to the office? Dr. Arce was talking about his nearly 20 years of service in the AVMA House of Delegates.

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Arce poised to make history this summer | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

Veterinary researchers continue to investigate the COVID-19 virus in animals and how the virus interacts between humans and animals.

The study Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARScoronavirus 2 was conducted by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Harbin Veterinary Institute.

The findings, which were published May 29 in the journal Science, showed that SARS-CoV-2 infects the upper respiratory tract of ferrets but is poorly transmissible between individuals. In cats, the virus replicated in the nose and throat and caused inflammatory changes deeper in the respiratory tract. In addition, airborne transmission occurred between pairs of cats under the experimental conditions. Dogs appeared not to support viral replication well and had low susceptibility to the virus, and pigs, chickens, and ducks were not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.

Also, in May, scientists in the U.S. and Japan reported that cats in a laboratory setting can readily become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and may be able to pass the virus to other cats.

Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of pathobiological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, led the study, published May 13 as a letter to the editor in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers obtained a SARS-CoV-2 isolate from a human patient and used it to generate a high dose of purified virus, which they then directly inoculated in the nasal cavity, trachea, and eyes of each of three cats. The following day, the researchers swabbed the nasal passages of the cats and were able to detect the virus in two of the animals. Within three days, the researchers detected the virus in all of the cats.

The day after the researchers administered the virus, they placed another cat that hadnt been administered SARS-CoV-2 virus in each of the first three cats cages.

Each day, the researchers collected nasal and rectal swab samples from all six cats to assess them for the presence of the virus. Within six days, all of the cats were shedding virus. However, none of the rectal swab samples contained virus.

Each cat shed SARS-CoV-2 from its nasal passages for up to six days. None of the cats showed signs of illness, and all of the cats ultimately cleared the virus.

That was a major finding for usthe cats did not have symptoms, said Dr. Kawaoka. He is also helping lead an effort to create a human COVID-19 vaccine.

In another investigation, pet owners who bring their animals to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University can choose to participate in the Coronavirus Epidemiological Research and Surveillance study.

Pets of consenting owners will have nasal and oral swab samples collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2. The study is also seeking area pet owners to test their animals at home. Volunteers receive a kit and are asked to collect swab samples over a two-week period and return them to the university.

A very small number of animals have tested positive for the virus, so even one presumptive-positive result would provide invaluable information, according to Kaitlin Sawatzki, PhD, animal surveillance coordinator for the study.

The more we know what a virus looks like that can hop species, the better the chances of preventing it, said Dr. Sawatzki, a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan A. Runstadler at the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health at Cummings.

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Researchers focus on COVID-19 virus in animals | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

The virus that causes COVID-19 had infected nearly 5 million people around the world and killed about 322,000 as of late May. The virus has left no area untouched, including the veterinary profession. The following stories represent just two of the people who have died during this pandemic. Their obituaries can be found in this issue.

Dr. Peter Sakas (Illinois 83), a staff veterinarian at the Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center in Niles, Illinois, died on March 30 of COVID-19. In his work, he focused on wildlife veterinary medicine. Those who knew him say he was charismatic, had a big personality, and cared deeply for his clients and their animals.

He had such a loyal following that there were clients who would drive in several hours from out of state just to see him for an appointment, said his daughter, Courtney Sakas, MD. My uncle recently shared a story that Elizabeth Taylor once sent her bird in a limousine to my fathers clinic to be seen by him.

Dr. Courtney Sakas said her father was an active member of the veterinary community. He traveled frequently to conferences, veterinary colleges, and local elementary schools. He had high school students shadow him on Saturdays so they could learn about veterinary medicine firsthand.

Dr. Peter Sakas specialized in avian veterinary medicine. In fact, birds were the whole reason he became a veterinarian. Dr. Sakas found a small, injured bird when he was young and tried to nurture it back to health.

He carried that same compassion through his entire career, Dr. Courtney Sakas said. He often took on cases that others would consider hopeless because he firmly believed that all animals have souls and deserve to be given a chance.

Dr. Peter Sakas even wrote a book on how to care for birds, Essentials of Avian Medicine: A Guide for Practitioners.

Dr. Sakas had no plans to retire. He wanted to keep working. Then he started showing symptoms March 20.

There has been a lot of attention on human health care front-line workers, but I think people often forget that veterinarians are front-line health care workers too, Dr. Courtney Sakas said. My father told us that he was never going to retire because he loved his job so much. I knew he was going to continue working as long as he possibly could to keep caring for the clients and animals he loved, even if it meant putting himself at risk.

Dr. Julie R. Butler (Cornell 83), founder of 145th Street Animal Hospital in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, died on April 4.

She was the only black person in her class, an experience she described as bittersweet, according to her sister, Sheila Butler, MD.

In her professional life, Dr. Julie Butler was the kind of veterinarian who never turned away an animal.

Dr. Butler co-founded New York Save Animals in Veterinary Emergency, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance for pets that need emergency care. She also served as president of the VMA of New York City. She spent over 30 years serving the Harlem community, and she used her experience to educate and mentor other veterinary professionals.Dr. Butler was a lifelong student. She loved to expand her knowledge both in veterinary medicine and as an artist.

It was amazing to see how fast she could acquire a new skill, said Alex Howard, a chef and Dr. Butlers son. She was even beginning to master Thai cooking. We experimented a lot and created a lot of great meals together.

Dr. Butler also created felt sculptures, designed clothing, made jewelry, and made an excellent lemon meringue pie.

For Thanksgiving and New Years Day, everybody would wait for the pie to be done so they could enjoy it or maybe even take some home, Howard said.

Kylie Lang, a veterinary technician, said Dr. Butler was a role model who made work enjoyable.

Dr. Butler was the kind of veterinarian who cared a great deal about her work and (its) impact on others, she said.

Lang said Dr. Butler was outspoken and humorous.

She displayed a rare confidence that took comfort in the unknown, said Zachary Butler-Jones, her nephew and a veterinary technician. She would reference necessary texts, make a game plan, and follow through with the procedure, even if she never did it before. That confidence would never spill into arrogance, though, and she made sure to always have her ducks in row when it came to her patients.

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Remembering veterinarians who have died during the pandemic - American Veterinary Medical Association

Global Veterinary Medicine Industry Market Report Renders deep perception of the Market Segment by Regions, market status of the Veterinary Medicine Industry on a global level that primarily aims the core regions which comprises of continents like North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and top manufacturer.

The research report on Veterinary Medicine Industry market report comprises of an in-depth analysis of this industry vertical. The key trends that describe the Veterinary Medicine Industry market during the forecast period are cited in the document, alongside additional factors including industry policies and regional scope. Moreover, the study specifies the impact of prevailing industry trends on potential investors.

Request a sample Report of Veterinary Medicine Industry Market at:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2707267?utm_source=algosonline.com&utm_medium=PSR

COVID-19, the disease it causes, surfaced in late 2020, and now had become a full-blown crisis worldwide. Over fifty key countries had declared a national emergency to combat coronavirus. With cases spreading, and the epicentre of the outbreak shifting to Europe, North America, India and Latin America, life in these regions has been upended the way it had been in Asia earlier in the developing crisis. As the coronavirus pandemic has worsened, the entertainment industry has been upended along with most every other facet of life. As experts work toward a better understanding, the world shudders in fear of the unknown, a worry that has rocked global financial markets, leading to daily volatility in the U.S. stock markets.

The report also provides with an overview of the competitive landscape along with a thorough analysis of the raw materials as well as the downstream buyers.

Revealing a summary of the competitive analysis of Veterinary Medicine Industry market:

An overview of the regional scope of the Veterinary Medicine Industry market:

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Significant Features that are under Offering and Key Highlights of the Reports:

Key questions answered in the report:

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Development Trend of Analysis of Veterinary Medicine Market Market

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Veterinary Medicine Market Size 2020: by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application - Cole of Duty

Its past 6 on a summer evening, and veterinarian Andy Cooke is consulting with a woman in the parking lot of his practice in Troy, in the shadow of a majestic view of Mount Monadnock.

Hes giving her instructions about her pet, which hes just examined inside his clinic; theyre outside because of restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. A member of his staff brings the dog out to her car, and it dances with joy, eagerly leaping into the back seat.

Its the end of another workday for the 58-year-old Cooke, who opened his practice in 1998 and sees as many as 30 to 40 pets almost all dogs and cats a day. In addition to treating the animals, he instructs, teaches, calms and sometimes consoles their owners.

Veterinary medicine is not all puppies and kittens; there are a lot of hard choices to make, he says. But Im fortunate to do this. I love what I do. Im never bored.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., and raised in Ithaca, Cooke is the youngest of six children, three boys and three girls. Their father, William, was a car dealer, selling Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles.

Cooke came to love animals at a young age because his best friend Ted Foxs father, Francis, was the head of the large-animal department at the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca. Francis Fox also had his own practice working with farm animals.

We went on calls with his dad starting in about 3rd grade, and us boys would just play around like boys do. But by the 6th grade, I started to really watch him and thought that it was a great way to make a living.

Dr. Fox turned out to be a significant influence and a mentor.

My father died when I was 11 years old from colon cancer, and theres no question that he filled a void in my life, Cooke recalls.

He was a strong, stout man with forearms like Popeye, he continues. He was a smart farm kid who went to ag school and then to vet school. He developed the vaccine that treated whats called bovine viral diarrhea, and now every cow in the world receives it.

Cooke says that at the end of each call, as Fox was driving away, the veterinarian would yell to the farmer: Keep em healthy, now! Thats the derivation of the name of Cookes practice on Route 12: Keep em Healthy.

He and Ted both developed a love of animals.

We had every manner of animal, but kept them at Teds house. Waterfowl of all kinds, pigeons, goats, hawks, even a llama with one eye that had been abandoned by a traveling fair, he says. We were the kids that everyone knew would take in an animal.

Ted Fox, incidentally, became an ornithologist and is now director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y. Dr. Francis Fox died at age 92 in 2015.

After high school, Cooke enrolled at Cornell, where he graduated with a degree in animal sciences. Next was Tufts University outside Boston, where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He describes his tutelage under Fox as a tremendous help during his veterinary education.

His first job was at an equine practice in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., treating and breeding thoroughbred horses at the famed Saratoga Race Track, which opened in 1863 and is the third oldest in the country.

The work was fun and challenging, he says, but extremely hard, both physically and mentally.

I worked 24/7, and one day I pulled out of a gas station with the pump handle still in my car, and I realized I was working too hard. Incidentally, there wasnt an intact marriage in the group.

Cooke was single at the time and had been at that practice for three years.

A colleague tipped him off to a job opportunity at Cheshire Animal Hospital in Keene, headed by Dr. Lee Pearson. He began there in 1993 and then opened his own practice, in Troy, in 1998. In 2017, he built a new 14,000-square-foot clinic next to his old building, and now employs a staff of 12.

Although he began as a mixed practice, treating both large animals on farms and also pets, he switched to a pets-only practice 10 years ago.

As a single practitioner, I just couldnt do both, he says.

Cooke says veterinary medicine can be especially difficult for a very obvious reason the patient cannot vocalize its problems. We share that with pediatricians, he notes.

You use your eyes, nose, your hands, you look for the subtle signs. You look at the animal, he says, explaining that it takes a significant amount of experience and intuition.

You must meet them where they stand, and listen to them. They will tell you if theyre scared, or hurt, or mad. You have to know the signals. Thats what Im good at, knowing people and knowing animals. Know what you know, and know what youre good at, and bring energy to the situation.

Treating animals also involves quite a bit of medical detective work, he says.

Ive been doing this for 31 years, and I still get stumped. You cant take any case for granted.

Its also crucial to work with pet owners, he emphasizes, and listen carefully to what theyre saying about the animal.

The human-animal bond is very strong; pets are members of the family, he says. Now that there is so much more isolation in society, we rely on animals to provide the closeness we need.

As for how the role of pets has changed over the years, he describes the intimacy as having evolved from the barn to the porch to the bedroom.

Inevitably, though, in many cases, a pet must be euthanized.

We take an oath to alleviate suffering, he says. There comes a time when you have to let them go; all the kings horses and all the kings men cant do anything for them.

Cooke is, naturally, a pet owner himself. He has two dogs: Kai, a Rhodesian ridgeback; and Bailey, a long-haired Jack Russell terrier. He also has Briar Rose, a domestic short-hair cat, and a rabbit named Mr. Fuzziwig.

When hes not tending to veterinary medicine, which may take up to 70 hours a week, Cooke is an avid singer, a member of the Cheshiremen and Junction 135 barbershop quartets. He is also involved and performs with the Raylynmor Opera of Peterborough and Small Time Productions in Marlborough. Cooke also sang in elementary and high school and was in the mens a capella group at Cornell.

He met his wife, Pam, while both were performing in the Keene Lions Club presentation of Guys and Dolls in 1996. The two married in 1998 and have a daughter, Frances, who is a junior at the University of New Hampshire.

Music permeated the Cooke household in Ithaca. We were a knockoff of the von Trapp family, he quips. We all sang.

His mother, Mary, had trained as a singer and even had the opportunity to perform with Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians, a famous band from the 1920s through the 1940s.

Instead, she fell in love and had six children, he says.

Both his mother and father were tall, his dad at 65, his mother standing at 511. Cooke is 62, and the shortest of the three boys in the family.

College roommates fixed them up because they were both tall, he says. His father graduated from Georgetown University and his mother from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.

Although he lost his father at a young age, Cooke remembers him well as a great guy.

He lied about his age to get in the Navy in World War II, he says, and served on a PT boat in the South Pacific.

He never said much about the war, Cooke says, but he recalls his father telling a story about a time he and his crewmates docked at a small island. While the rest of the men went into the jungle, his father stayed back with the boat to wash some laundry.

Suddenly, a Japanese soldier appeared, and my father thought that would be the end of him.

Instead, the soldier made a motion of two fingers to his lips, indicating he wanted a cigarette. My father laid down his pack of cigarettes and lighter, and the man picked them up and walked away.

With the early death of his father, Cookes oldest brother Will, only 21 at the time, took over management of his dads automobile dealership, the third generation of the family in the business. Their grandfather had also been a car dealer selling Model Ts in Rochester, N.Y.

Some people asked me, Why dont you just go sell cars? Cooke said. But I knew what I wanted to do work with animals.

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Drawing on intuition and an early influence, Andy Cooke helps keep pets healthy - The Keene Sentinel

Fourth-year veterinary student Austin Floyd examines Birdie

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

When a beagle named Birdie arrived at theTexas A&M Small Animal Hospital (SAH)with an extremely low heart rate,Dr. Ashley Saundersknew that immediate action was necessary to save the dogs life.

As a veterinary cardiologist and professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), Saunders had seen Birdies symptoms many times.

Cases with arrhythmias, or slow, irregular heartbeats, come into the hospital on a weekly basis. If caught in time, the condition is typically fixed with a treatment that is routine to Saunders but often a surprise to the general public by implanting a pacemaker.

These surgeries are usually minimally invasive with a quick recovery time, but in Birdies case, it would take a team of specialists an entire night to heal her heart.

In May 2019, Birdies owner, Katherine McLeod, noticed that Birdie was acting sluggish and behaving abnormally.

It was really odd. It was like she was just cranky, McLeod said. Over the next couple days, she got pretty lethargic and acted like she didnt want to go outside or do anything. She was still eating and drinking, but she clearly didnt feel well.

McLeods local veterinarian in Waco discovered that Birdie had an abnormally slow heartbeat and recommended a medication for treatment. But the medicine only helped for a few days, so when the lethargy returned on a Saturday afternoon, McLeod knew that her best option was to bring Birdie to Texas A&M, where she entrusted Saunders with Birdies care.

Birdie had a really low heart rate called third-degree AV (atrioventricular) block, Saunders said. The middle part of the heart stopped working, so the top and bottom couldnt communicate well.

This miscommunication contributed to Birdies slow heartbeat, lethargy and overall unwell feeling.

Almost immediately after the diagnosis, Saunders,fourth-year veterinary student Amanda Tabone, and SAH staff began preparing to implant Birdies pacemaker.

Typically, you want to put a pacemaker in through the jugular vein in the neck, Saunders said. Thats the ideal way to do it. So, we took her back to do that, but the pacemaker electrically would not capture her heart. This can happen in rare cases, and we have to quickly adapt.

Saunders moved to the next option, which involved surgically screwing the pacemaker into Birdies heart through her chest. Thanks to help fromDr. Whitney Hinson, a small animal surgery resident, they finally got the pacemaker attached and working properly.

But because of the unexpected issues with the pacemaker, Birdie remained under anesthesia for longer than they initially planned and more complications began to arise.

We were in surgery into the middle of the night at that point, Saunders said. Dr. Bradley, the anesthesiologist, stayed with us the entire time, and we ended up having to spend even more time trying to get her to wake up after the surgical procedures because her lungs were slow to reinflate.

Dr. Ashley Saunders implanted a pacemaker in Birdies heart, breaking her heartrate back to a normal speed.

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Finally, Birdie improved. By the next day, the pacemaker had brought Birdies heart rate back to normal speed and she was able to go home to Waco with her family.

Dr. Saunders called me that morning and said miracle of miracles, basically, McLeod said. She said, You can come get her. Shes doing great. You could tell in her voice that she was excited.

While Birdies case had several setbacks, pacemaker implants are typically much less complicated, according to Saunders. She sees pacemaker cases at least once a week, on average, for a variety of dog breeds and ages.

Everybody is always stunned when I say Im a veterinary cardiologist, Saunders said. People always say, What? People put pacemakers in their dogs? Yes, we can do that, and we do it a lot. That always surprises people.

For Saunders, being able to perform those life-changing procedures and getting to work with a variety of other SAH services in the process makes the high-stress career worth it.

People dont realize how high-stress it is to be a cardiologist because it feels like life and death all of the time, Saunders said. But in the moment, you have to keep thinking because you really have a patients life in your hands; you just have to keep problem solving until you get it.

Tabone was excited to have the opportunity to scrub in for surgery and help care for Birdie post-operatively, especially because of her love for Beagles.

I was the student on call the weekend Birdie came in, Tabone said, and I always joke that if Im going to get called in, I hope its a beagle, because I have an overwhelming attachment and love for this breed.

Tabone, who has three of her own beagles, fell in love with Birdie and was thankful to be involved in her case.

It was incredible to see the transition she made from being very gloomy to being excited and ready to go home with her family, she said. I was really lucky that I got called in for this case.

Birdies case was also meaningful for Tabone because it was her first clinical experience and her first opportunity to be hands-on in a surgical setting. When Birdie arrived at the hospital, Tabone and her fellow fourth-years had just begun their first week of clinical rotations.

Birdies mom mailed a letter to the teaching hospital, and Ill definitely keep it for my entire career, Tabone said. She had the most kind and sincere things to say about me and the work that Dr. Saunders did. I plan to have it framed in my office and when Im having a not-so-great day, I can read it and think of my experience with Birdie and her family. Itll forever be great motivation for my career.

Back in Waco, Birdie returned to her normal, active, friendly self within a week.

Anytime you want to take her on a walk, she gets all fired up about that. She loves her treats and all the different food that she gets, McLeod said. Shes great with Skittle (McLeods other beagle); theyre best buds and theyre very happy to be back hanging out together.

As a huge Baylor fan, McLeod had no experience with Texas A&M before Birdies procedure at the Small Animal Hospital, besides rooting against the Aggies on gameday.

It was funny. When we went to pick Birdie up, she had her maroon bandages on and what I like to call her Aggie haircut, because they had to shave parts of her, McLeod said. I said, What? Come on, man, no green and gold bandages? The hospital staff said, Hey, youre at A&M.

I said, You know what? Forever we will root for the Aggies unless theyre playing us, which is very unlikely these days, she said. But its funny now any time I watch football, I say, Im for A&M. Just for A&M.

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Texas A&M Veterinarians Setting The Pace - Texas A&M University Today

Roberta OConnor

By Josh Babcock, College of Veterinary Medicine

A compound discovered in the gills of wood-eating clams could be the solution to a group of parasites responsible for some of the worlds most common infections.

That compound is tartrolon E, a byproduct of bacteria that help shipworms, a group of saltwater clams, digest the wood they eat.

According to research recently published in PLOS Pathogens, the compound, unlike any other, is proven to kill causal parasites for malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, theileriosis and babesiosis.

There are compounds that work against the individual parasites, but to find one that works against this entire group, that is what made this unique, said Roberta OConnor, an associate professor in Washington State Universitys Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology unit, and first author on the paper.

While there are already effective drugs for many of the parasites mentioned here, OConnor said this group of parasites, called apicomplexans, readily develops drug resistance. Development of new, effective drugs against apicomplexan parasites is an ongoing need for human and veterinary medicine, she said.

One of those parasites in need of a more effective remedy is Cryptosporidium.

Cryptosporidium, a waterborne zoonotic parasite, is a major cause of diarrhea in children, immunocompromised patients, and in newborn animals worldwide. The parasite infects millions of humans and agricultural animals annually.

In addition to killing this class of parasites in vitro, tartrolon E was able to kill Cryptosporidium in newborn mice.

Beginning this summer, WSU researchers will test the compound against Cryptosporidium in lambs.

Currently, nitazoxanide is the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat cryptosporidiosis.

Nitazoxanide doesnt work well for those [patients] who are immunocompromised or malnourished and those are the people most vulnerable to Cryptosporidium, OConnor said.

OConnor is the principal investigator on the study which will characterize the specific effects of tartrolon E on Cryptosporidium parasites. Villarino will lead the pharmacokinetics portion of the study in immunocompromised mice to further assess tartrolon Es effectiveness and optimal dose regimens.

The research is made possible by a recently awarded 5-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

We will define how the drug behaves in the body and how much of the drug is needed to control Cryptosporidiuminfection, Villarino said. We want the maximum effect with minimal adverse effects.

This aspect of the research on the compound is a key component for drug development.

This could have a significant impact on human and veterinary medicine because there is no other drug that can effectively treat this condition, Villarino said.

OConnor and Villarino are hopeful tartrolon E will lead to a clinically developed drug but they know it is a long way to get there.

Tartrolon E is obviously hitting some system that is common to [all] these parasites, OConnor said. Even if this compound isnt successful, if we can determine the mechanism, we will have identified a common drug target for all these parasites.

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A compound unlike any other - WSU News

Since the first vaccine was invented in 1796, the practice of immunization has transformed how we view infectious diseases, taking many pathogenic invaders from being deadly threats to easily preventable maladies. For humans and animals alike, vaccines are important healthcare tools.

Dr. Leslie Easterwood, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says the equine strangles vaccine is one that is of particular importance for horse owners in protecting their animal.

Strangles is the common term for the bacterial respiratory disease caused by Streptococcus equi, subspecies equi, Easterwood said. Strangles infections most commonly present as an upper respiratory infection that primarily involves the lymph nodes in a horses jaw. Symptoms include high fevers, thick nasal discharge, depression, and a lack of appetite.

The bacteria that causes strangles in horses may sound familiar to their human owners; a cousin of this bacteria, called Streptococcus pyogenes, causes strep throat in people. Though these bacteria are genetically similar and cause upper respiratory symptoms in both species, horses with strangles cannot infect humans, and humans with strep throat cannot infect horses.

Strangles is spread via respiratory secretions from infected horses, Easterwood said. It is highly contagious from horse to horse and is pretty common.

Since strangles is easily transmitted between horses, vaccination is an important tool for minimizing the spread of this disease.

Although the disease rarely results in a fatality, it will make horses sick and can lead to loss of production, decreased performance, and quarantine, in some circumstances, Easterwood said. Vaccination does not provide complete protection, as with all vaccinations, but it can help to decrease the chance of contracting the disease in susceptible populations.

Since horses are often kept in groups grazing together at pasture, sharing pens, or neighbored in stalls contagious diseases can quickly work their way through a herd. As such, vaccination remains an essential tool for both individual and herd health.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to vaccinate an animal comes down to the owner, Easterwood says, although there might be situations during which a third party takes interest in a horses vaccination records.

There are no governmentally mandated vaccinations in horses, Easterwood said. Some boarding and breeding facilities will require vaccination to board at their location, but that is not a legal requirement.

Even if no legal requirement enforces the vaccination of horses, owners should still consider consulting with their veterinarian to determine what care is best for maintaining the health of their animal.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Originally posted here:
Pet talk: Reining in the facts on equine strangles - Marshall News Messenger

This story appeared in the July/August 2020 issue as "A Dog's Life."Subscribe to Discovermagazine for more stories like this.

Matt Kaeberleins search for the secret to a long life began, in part, with 560 unique strains of bakers yeast.

He noticed that some of the strains with the greatest longevity tended to divide in slow motion. And he found that this slowdown, which takes place in the molecular mechanisms controlling cell division, could be tinkered with artificially by feeding the yeast a drug called rapamycin.

As he began publishing his results in 2006, other researchers were finding that the drug most commonly used to prevent rejection of organ transplants in humans had a similar anti-aging effect in worms and flies. Several years later, a landmark paper in Nature showed that rapamycin could increase the lifespan of middle-aged mice by 9 to 14 percent.

Veterinarian Kate Creevy (with Poet and Bandana) is one of the co-leaders of the Dog Aging Project. To participate, dogs visit the clinic regularly for checkups. (Credit: Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences)

By then a professor of pathology at the University of Washington medical school,Kaeberlein found these results both tantalizing and frustrating. There would appear to be molecular processes that are shared in the aging process cross lots of different organisms, he says. That means, in theory, a chemical like rapamycin should therefore also prolong the lives of people. But itd be hard to confirm: Humans live such a long time that it would take at least a generation to find out. What he required was a test subject that approximated humans biologically, but with a much shorter lifespan.

An intriguing solution came up in 2011 in a conversation with biologist Daniel Promislow, who would soon become a new colleague and, like Kaeberlein, was a dog owner. Considering that canines have an average life expectancy of about a decade, everyday exposure to a human living environment and natural susceptibility to many of the same frailties as humans from heart disease to cancer Promislow, who was already working toward starting aging studies in dogs, commented that pooches might just be a pathologists best friend. And pathologists could return the favor by helping to extend pets lifespans, a treat for anyonewho has a dog.

Veterinarian Kate Creevy and Rudy during a regular checkup. (Credit: Amber J. Keyser)

Kaeberlein decided to join in. Launching the Dog Aging Project late last year, with $23 million in funding from the National Institute on Aging, he, Promislow and their colleagues got 80,000 responses to their call for canine volunteers.

By then, their ambitions had expanded considerably. For most of his career, Promislow had wondered why larger dogs live shorter lives. It got me interested in thinking about dogs as a model for aging, he says. Looking at the relationship between dog size and lifespan might be a way to find genes associated with diseases of aging and longevity.

To address this question, Promislow plans to observe dogs over their lifetimes. For the next decade, hell collect genetic profiles, owner surveys and data from veterinary checkups.

According to Kate Creevy, a Texas A&M University veterinarian who co-leads the Dog Aging Project with Promislow and Kaeberlein, one of the biggest challenges will be to establish criteria to measure canine aging objectively, because nobody until now has set out to practice canine gerontology. We need something more specific than for me to walk into an exam room and say, Gosh, your dog looks really good, says Creevy.

Creevy and her colleagues are developing metrics that will encompass both physical and mental health, positioning them to investigate the genetics and environments of fast and slow agers, and to see whether similar systemic breakdowns make different breeds of dog susceptible to different diseases.

Daniel Promislow with Frisbee. (Credit: Tammi Kaeberlein)

Kaeberleins contribution to the Dog Aging Project directly complements the longitudinal study headed by Promislow and Creevy. His working hypothesis is that rapamycin targets pathways that contribute to a variety of aging-related diseases, he explains. If rapamycin delays the onset of cancer in golden retrievers and heart disease in Doberman pinschers, he says hell have evidence that there is a molecular biology of aging common to all canines and possibly other mammals.

He has reason to be optimistic. He recently conducted a 10-week study on a couple of dozen middle-aged dogs, testing for side effects of rapamycin. In that brief period, he saw evidence of more youthful heart activity and more affectionate behavior, which might be interpretable as improved cognition.

In an upcoming study, Kaeberlein will give rapamycin or a placebo to 500 middle-aged dogs for three years. Given their maturity, a couple of hundred will probably die in that period. By comparing the lifespan of dogs on the drug with those chowing on placebos, Kaeberlein will be able to determine whether his treatment really works.

He acknowledges the personal disappointments ahead for some participants, but believes the distress will be outweighed by the potential of prolonged life for dogs and humans alike. To a dog person like Kaeberlein, these extra years are a lot more enticing than spending some additional quality time with some long-lived bakers yeast.

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The Drug That Could One Day Help People and Dogs Live Longer - Discover Magazine

A pair of endangered African penguins were returned to their colony this week at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh after being hospitalized for months.

While Dottie was recovering her mate, Stanley, was moved to the ICU with her to help encourage her.

According to the National Aviary, Dottie became ill in October. She was admitted to the aviarys intensive care unit where it was discovered she had pneumonia and a mass in her chest.

"In the face of this stunning diagnosis, a team of experts in veterinary care, penguin behavior, and husbandry was formed to collaborate on her care. Human-grade antibiotics and nebulizers, respiratory medicines, oxygen treatments, and intensive nursing brought Dottie through the worst of her illness. She received nebulizer treatments every four hours, twice-daily medications, and daily fluids. Dottie regained her strength, overcame setbacks, and made strides towards a recovery.

Penguins are colony birds, used to living in close proximity. The National Aviarys team knew that beyond needing intensive physical care, Dottie needed companionship to make a full recovery."

Her lifelong companion, Stanley, who is named for the Stanley Cup and is one of the aviarys original four African penguins, was brought to the ICU for visits.

In the beginning, Stan visited for an hour a day. As she became stronger, Stan would stay longer. He also helped to encourage her to eat, according to Dr. Pilar Fish, the National Aviarys Director of Zoological Advancement and Veterinary Medicine.

Stan worked in tandem with the team who visited throughout the day to encourage Dottie to eat. While our penguin experts would feed Dottie, Stan would sit right next to her, vocalizing and grooming her. When Stan ate, Dottie would take a bite," she said.

Stan is the mate of Dottie, an endangered African Penguin, at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Stan helped Dottie recover from a serious illness that her in the ICU since October. The couple returned to Penguin Point this week. (Photo provided by the National Aviary)

When returned to Penguin Point, Dottie and Stan immediately reclaimed their usual cave in the rocks.

Fish said that Dotties recovery is a miracle.

Dotties recovery is a miracle that largely happened behind the scenes, and this happy moment, watching her dive into the water at Penguin Point, is the result of prioritizing both her physical health and emotional wellbeing. From our incredible veterinary team, to our penguin experts bringing Stanley to be at Dotties side, to the members of our extended Aviary family who donated to help ensure Dottie received the highest possible level of care, Dotties recovery was possible through many acts of caring and generosity at each stage.

The National Aviary will reopen to the public on July 1 after being closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Penguins mate helps her recover from serious illness at National Aviary - PennLive

Global Point-Of-Care Diagnostics Market: Snapshot

Point-of-care or point-of-use diagnostics, sometimes known as bedside testing, has gained increased prominence in analytical testing over the past few years. They provide clinically relevant information without the need for a dedicated laboratory. Recent technological advancements in a host of microfluidic diagnostics platforms have consequently improved their functionality and performance. Constant advances such as devices miniaturization, multiplexing of samples, and development of networking technologies have led to the evolution of advanced point-of-care diagnostics. This has led to the advent of devices with higher specificity and sensitivity, which is helpful in boosting patient outcomes in a variety of clinical settings. Furthermore, they increase the availability of diagnostics and reduces the overall healthcare cost. Point-of-care diagnostics are expected to open up promising prospects in areas such as veterinary medicine, space travel, and critical care.

Get Sample Copy of the Report @https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1037

In recent years, intensive researches are being done for the technical feasibility and clinical viability of point-of-care diagnostic using saliva in case of periodontitis. Saliva, as source of excellent biomarkers, have already been tested for the application in bedside testing. While this has been proven to be technically feasible, still hurdles remain in the clinical application. For instance, the viability of the method is still not validated for a large, diverse set of patient population. Periodontitis is chronic in nature and progresses without causing any noticeable discomfort to patients, until periodontium is destroyed. Hence, world over, researchers and clinicians are focused on meeting the unmet needs of various populations suffering from gingival inflammation.

Global Point Of Care Diagnostics Market: Overview

The continuous development in the field of information technology pertaining to healthcare plays an imperative role in the growth of the global point of care diagnostics market. Point of care diagnostic systems are used for various applications including glucose monitoring, infectious disease testing, cardiometabolic monitoring, hematology testing, pregnancy and fertility testing, fecal occult testing, and tumor/cancer testing. These systems are widely used in professional diagnostic centers, home care, and research laboratories.

This research report provides a detailed analysis of the global point of care diagnostics market by segmenting the overall market on the basis of various criteria including end users, products, and geography. Each segment has been meticulously studied in terms of both value and volume. The report offers insights into the historic scenario and current landscape of the market and uses the data to estimate future trends. It uses Porters five force analysis and market attractiveness analysis to derive the vendor landscape of the market. It profiles key players of the market and presents data regarding their business strategies, latest development, market shares, and contact information. It also presents a detailed description of the factors influencing the market and analyzes the extent to which they impact the growth.

Global Point Of Care Diagnostics Market: Drivers and Restraints

The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and lifestyle-related diseases is triggering the global demand for point of care diagnostic systems. The growing investments by governments and private organizations in the development of innovative diagnostic products are fuelling the global point of care diagnostics market. Moreover, rapid advancements in technologies and increasing focus of manufacturers towards new product launches are providing a fillip to the market. The rising demand for home-based POC devices is another factor augmenting the market. Furthermore, the increasing number of regulatory approvals for new and advanced immunoassay techniques is catalyzing the growth of the market.

Despite the numerous drivers, the growth of the market is restrained by arduous and stringent regulatory policies, which are adversely affecting the gestation period for product launches. Moreover, pricing pressures due to lack of favorable reimbursement policies and budgetary constraints are limiting the widespread adoption of point of care diagnostic systems.

Global Point Of Care Diagnostics Market: Geographical Segmentation

Based on geography, the key segments reviewed in the research report are Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. North America will account for a substantial share in the market throughout the forecast period. The rising prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, increasing initiatives by governments to promote the development of novel healthcare products, and the growing number of product approvals are escalating the growth of the region.

Asia Pacific is expected to register a significant CAGR during the same span owing to the improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding patient base. The increasing initiatives by market players for expanding their distribution network are working in favor of the growth of the region. Moreover, high unmet medical needs and rising consumer expenditure on healthcare are propelling the market in the region.

Global Point Of Care Diagnostics Market: Competitive Landscape

Prominent players in the global point of care diagnostics market are focusing towards business expansion through product innovation and technological advancements. They are involved in the development and commercialization of more sophisticated products to enhance their shares in the market. Several companies operating in the market are involved in collaborations with large hospitals in order to stay ahead. Some of the key players in the global point of care diagnostics market are Siemens AG, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Beckman Coulter Inc., Roche Diagnostics Limited, Becton, Dickinson and Company,Alere Inc., and Johnson & Johnson.

Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @https://www.tmrresearch.com/point-of-care-diagnostics-market

About TMR Research:

TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

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TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050

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Point Of Care Diagnostics Market Analysis by Growth, Segmentation, Performance, Competitive Strategies and Forecast to 2025 - Cole of Duty

Purdue released it Protect Purdue Plan on Friday, June 12. The plan outlines how Purdue plans to reopen campus for the fall 2020 semester amid the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Purdue University)

WEST LAFAYETTE After working since March 31 on how to reopening the West Lafayette campus in August, in time for the fall 2020 semester, Purdue released its full plan Friday for a school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Purdue trustees put the final touches on the 23-page Protect Purdue Plan Thursday adding details about distancing in dining halls, COVID-19 testing capacities on campus and the creation of an in-hour contact tracing team to track down those whove been close to those who test positive.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels, who was early and aggressive about the universitys plans to reopen, said he had faith that the plan the product of two teams of researchers, administrators and deans would make it possible to get a full complement of students back on campus for the first time since March.

Were getting so many questions, Daniels told trustees Thurdsay. Not just from this campus, but all from all over the country about this. So, weve said, Let us put all the blocks in place, understanding that well be filling in the gaps, and well be changing some of them as we learn more.

Willie Reed, dean of Purdues College of Veterinary Medicine, was co-chair of the Safe Campus Task Force, assigned by Daniels to study what Purdue needed to do to safely open.

More: Purdue faculty, staff less confident in campus reopening plan after getting Protect Purdue Pledge details

More: No furloughs, layoffs, but restructured jobs likely as Purdue firms up budget, reopening plan

More: Coronavirus: Foot on the gas, Mitch Daniels, Purdue trustees lay groundwork for bringing students back to campus this fall

Over the next two months, hundreds, if not thousands, of Purdue faculty and staff will continue to work tirelessly to prepare for the safest and best fall semester we can deliver, Reed said. This plan outlines the most vital measures as we know them right now and will continue to evolve as we follow the guidance and direction of our own medical experts, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and governmental and public health officials.

Here are some of the highlights, as approved over the past month by Purdues trustees:

Reach Dave Bangert at 765-420-5258 or at dbangert@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @davebangert.

Read or Share this story: https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2020/06/13/coronavirus-campus-how-purdue-reopen-fall-heres-protect-purdue-plan/3181991001/

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How will Purdue reopen in the fall? Heres the Protect Purdue Plan - Journal & Courier

by: News Release & Posted By Staff | newsweb@everythinglubbock.com

Artist rendering of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.(Photo provided by Texas Tech University)

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:

TheCancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas(CPRIT) has awarded a transformative grant to theTexas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillodesigned to bring to the schools growing faculty one of the worlds leading cellular and molecular biologists.

The $1.4 million grant will allow Klementina Fon Tacer, a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, since 2016, to join the veterinary school faculty. Supported by this award, Fon Tracer will investigate the novel mechanisms that protect mammalian germ cells against stress and how those mechanisms are co-opted in cancer, with the ultimate goal of advancing cancer treatment and fertility preservation of childhood cancer survivors.

The hope is Fon Tacers research will establish a strong foundation for a comparative oncology research center in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

What we do and why we do it is simple. We are here to benefit Texas and Texans, saidGuy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Fon Tacer is going to change lives for generations to come. When we first had the chance to meet her, it was clear. Her research is transformative and will impact countless Texans in the years ahead. I am so thankful to the CPRIT Oversight Committee for awarding Texas Tech this recruitment award to make it possible to bring Dr. Fon Tacer to Texas and to the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her work in comparative oncology will save lives.

The Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members Award, one of seven awarded by CPRIT this week and part of 13 academic research recruitment and product development awards totaling $56 million, is the first CPRIT grant awarded to the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is scheduled to open its doors to students for the first time in the fall of 2021.

Fon Tacer earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. She also holds a Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Ljubljana.

Fon Tacer is not new to Texas, having served as a postdoctoral researcher and Fulbright Fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas from 2006-2008. From there, she returned to the University of Ljubljana as a postdoctoral researcher and later as an adjunct assistant professor on the veterinary faculty at the University of Ljubljana until 2012.

Among her research interests at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital are melanoma antigen genes (MAGE), very common cancer immunotherapy targets and their role in cancer reproduction, metabolism and stress response.

We are very excited to have support from CPRIT for building the faculty of our new School of Veterinary Medicine, saidJoseph Heppert, vice president of theOffice of Research & Innovation. One-health research themes developed by faculty like Dr. Tacer will have enormous benefits for both human and animal health. TheTexas Tech University Systemhas strong potential for collaboration in one-health research across the Texas Tech andTexas Tech University Health Science Centercampuses, and we are extremely proud to be adding new faculty who will capitalize on these opportunities.

Thanks to the generosity of Amarillo and communities across Texas, and the commitment of legislators from around the state, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, established in 2018, is working to enroll its first class in the fall of 2021, pending approval by the AVMA Council on Education.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will recruit and select students with a passion to practice and succeed in rural and regional communities. Its curriculum is focused on the competencies and skills necessary for success in practices that support these communities. Texas Techs innovative and cost-efficient model partners with the wider community of veterinary practices across the state to provide clinical, real-world experiential learning.

In June 2019,Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the biennial state budget, which appropriated $17.35 million for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillothat will go toward operational needs in order to get the school up and running. The appropriation included language directing Texas Tech to move forward in establishing the school.

To date, CPRIT has awarded almost $2.5 billion in grants to Texas research institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited 181 distinguished researchers, supported the establishment, expansion or relocation of 36 companies to Texas and generated more than $3 billion in additional public and private investment. CPRIT funding has advanced scientific and clinical knowledge and provided 5.7 million life-saving cancer prevention and early detection services, reaching Texans from all 254 counties. In November 2019, voters in Texas approved a constitutional amendment authorizing an additional $3 billion in bonds for cancer research and prevention.

(News release from Texas Tech University)

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TTU School of Veterinary Medicine receives $1.4 Million CPRIT recruitment grant - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine has completed a summary of seasonal influenza over the past two years.Dr Susan Detmer, an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says COVID-19 has presented an interesting scenario.

Speaking to Farmscape, she explains:

"With less movement of people, even between the provinces in Canada, we're actually seeing less disease and less transmission. There's still movements of pigs and we do see viruses move with the movement of pigs. We are seeing that happen, the viruses are on these farms so they're not going to just disappear.

"But we do expect to see less influenza in people so long as they're doing their social distancing, they're not interacting with large groups, they're not travelling on planes. All of that is going to hopefully benefit the pigs this fall.

"We'll see what happens but it is something that some of us are keeping an eye on because, this time of year it's southern hemisphere. Australia, South America, those areas where flu is transmitting still because it's their winter time, what comes back to us come next fall, we'll if that is any different.

"If there's less virus being transmitted in Australia because they're trying to stop the Coronavirus from transmitting as well, then we could actually have a better fall flu season because people are not interacting at the levels that they normally would."

Dr Detmer says all of those steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, staying home when sick, self isolating, creating bubbles around families, wearing facemasks, are all going to help stop the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.

Read more:
COVID-19 control efforts appear to be containing swine flu - The Pig Site

Editors note: The following letters are part of an ongoing conversation about diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine that started when dvm360 published this article late last year. For the beginning of the conversation, the original letters can be found here and here.

I would like to make one final comment and response about recent letters to the editor regarding the whitest profession in America. I believe Dr. McKenzies assertion that the makeup of our profession is predominantly white as a result of systemic racism is incorrect. (More on the whitest profession, April 2020). It is obvious from his website that Dr. McKenzie is a firm believer in evidence-based medicine. In this discussion, the evidence and statistics from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) do not support his assertion.

According to the AAVMC, the percentage of underrepresented minorities applying to veterinary colleges in 2016 was 21.6%, and the actualenrollment in those same programs was almost identical (21.1%). Im not a statistician, but this leads me to conclude, perhaps naively,that the makeup of the veterinary student population and of our profession as a whole mirrors the racial makeup of the applicant pool. (The same holds true for the percentage of women now enrolled in U.S. and Canadian veterinary programs. Most classes are 80% female, reflecting the 82% of female applicants in the 2016 AAVMC report.)

Despite many initiatives, including by my alma mater, Purdue University, the number of underrepresented minorities applying to veterinary colleges is still way below that of white applicants, and there is no evidence to support that the admissions to veterinary schools are or have been the result of intentional discrimination or systemic racism.

The good news is that the percentage of minorities graduating in 2016 was 15.8%substantially higher than the approximately 4.5% when I graduated from Purdue's DVM program in 1982, with most of the gains being made since the launch ofthe Diversity Matters initiative in 2005.

In 1969, one of my early mentors who allowed me to job shadow was an African-American graduate of Tuskegee University. He was instrumental in my decision to become a veterinarian.During my 38-year career, I have never known (nor can I imagine) a colleague who was unwilling to encourage or mentor elementary, high school or college students of any minority group that showed interest in our profession.

My concern is that using the terminology the whitest profession in America will in fact dissuade underrepresented minorities from seeking to join our profession by insinuating that the deck is stacked against them before they even attempt to shadow a veterinarian or pursue an education that will prepare them for admission to colleges of veterinary medicine. In this regard, I believe words matter.

Likewise, should I be expected to dissuade my white, privileged grandsons from seeking a career in veterinary medicine, as we must now and for the foreseeable future balance the racial makeup of the profession? Shouldsimilar programs developed to attract underrepresented minorities to veterinary medicine be made available to them?

I thank Dr. McKenzie for his feedback. I was very hesitant to get involved in discussions about race, but once again, Imust disagree about using the term whitest profession in America. I believe it does nothing to enhance the promotion of diversity in our profession.

Dr. Paul Clemente

Fort Wayne, Indiana

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

I appreciate Dr. Clementes willingness to engage in a discussion of such a contentious topic, and I acknowledge the difficulty in having substantive conversations about such a complex issue in the letters page of a magazine. However, I feel obliged to point out that his understanding of my comments, and of the role of racism in the demographic makeup of the veterinary profession, is incorrect.

That the proportion of veterinarians from underrepresented groups (at least those that are tracked) is similar to the proportion of applicants from those groups to veterinary colleges suggests that intentional discrimination in admissions is not the reason for the disproportionate predominance of white veterinarians. This is encouraging, both because such a direct manifestation of racism would reflect badly on the profession and because it would be a clear violation of federal law.

This does not demonstrate, however, that systematic racism is not at work or that the poor representation of specific groups is due to a natural or inherent lack of interest among those groups in joining the profession. The composition of the applicant pool reflects a much more insidious and widespread constellation of factors that impede potential applicants from underrepresented communities at a much earlier stage on the path to becoming veterinarians. This includes disparities in educational opportunities and resources as well as a paucity of mentors and role models in the profession to encourage children in minority communities to consider veterinary medicine as a career. This lack of representation in our profession, not the acknowledgment of it in the phrase whitest profession in America, is one of the barriers to greater diversity. Sadly, the deck is stacked against people of color, and solving the problem begins with clearly and honestly labeling it.

The suggestion that diversity and inclusion is a zero sum game in which white men must be discriminated against to make room for others is an outdated and disappointingly simplistic characterization of the problem and the available solutions. Dr. Clementes grandsons are indeed privileged that their ethnicity is not an obstacle to their career aspirations, as it still too often is for people of color. They should be encouraged to pursue their ambitions and, with a grandfather who is a veterinarian, they can likely see themselves as part of a profession that looks comfortable and familiar. The grandchildren of people of color should have the same opportunities and encouragement as Dr. Clemente provides his grandsons, and right now they frequently do not. Inclusion means making such encouragement and opportunities available to everyone, not discriminating against one group to favor another.

I would encourage Dr. Clemente, and everyone interested in inclusion and diversity in veterinary medicine, to read Navigating Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, edited by Lisa M. Greenhill and colleagues. This excellent, evidence-based resource traces the roots of the problem and offers strategies for improvement.

Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMDThe SkeptVet

Read more:
Final words on the 'whitest profession' - dvm360