Veterinary Report Vol. 27 No. 4: Alumni

2002 Illinois Veterinary Alumni Association Awards

Class of 1960 Meets

Vet Med Afghan

What’s New?

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Three College graduates recently accepted positions with Banfield, The Pet Hospital, which has 20 hospitals in Illinois and more than 330 locations across the country. Dr. Linda Stewart (’80) is practicing at Banfield’s Woodbury, Minn., hospital; Dr. Carrie Taylor (’98) in Darien, Ill.; and Dr. Katie Aksamit (’03) in Orland Hills, Ill.

Dr. Donald Monke (’77), of Plain City, Ohio, was recently promoted to vice president, production operations, at Select Sires, Inc. In this role he manages more than 80 employees as well as herd health and semen collection of more than 1,700 bulls. Dr. Monke has been with Select Sires for 26 years, most recently as vice president, sire health programs, where he was responsible for developing the company’s biosecurity program. He has been chairman of the Certified Semen Services board of directors for 10 years and currently is vice chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders board of directors. He recently earned a master’s degree in business administration from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Karen (Swalec) Tobias (’85), small animal soft tissue surgeon in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, received tenure and full professorship in July. She became president of the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery in June. Dr. Tobias and her husband have two children.

Dr. Peter Weinstein (’86) was installed in June as the president of the California Veterinary Medical Association, the largest state veterinary medical association in the nation with more than 5,000 members.

Dr. Marge J. Piel (’90) attained diplomate status in the College of Laboratory Animal Medicine in July 2002. On July 1, 2003, she accepted a position as assistant director of the Comparative Research Center (CRC) of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. She also serves as coordinator of the CRC’s surgical research laboratory. Previously she was a member of the senior veterinary staff at the University of Illinois at Chicago Biologic Resources Laboratory.

Dr. Deb Hickman (’98), veterinary medical officer at the Portland (Ore.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center, recently achieved diplomate status in the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. This required preparation of a manuscript, application, and a written and practical examination.

Dr. Kerensa N. Rechner (’99) was promoted to medical director of VCA Naper Ridge Animal Hospital in Naperville, Ill., on July 25.

2002 Illinois Veterinary Alumni Association Awards

Dr. Linda Tollefson, shown at left with Dean Whiteley and Dr. Georgianne Ludwig, was unable to attend Fall Conference in 2002. She accepted her award at the alumni reception held during the American Veterinary Medical Association convention in Denver, Colo., in July 2003.

The University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni Association presented awards on October 10, 2002, during the 83rd annual Fall Conference for Veterinarians. The presentations were made by alumni association president Dr. Eric Neumann (IL ’92). Dr. Georgianne Ludwig (IL ’93) took office as alumni association president after the presentations.

The Dr. Erwin Small Veterinary Achievement Award recognizes national or international efforts on behalf of veterinary practice, service to mankind, or the advancement of human welfare. It was awarded to Dr. Linda Tollefson (IL ’80), deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration in the Center for Veterinary Medicine and Assistant Surgeon General (Rear Admiral).

Dr. Tollefson is in charge of all public health programs, international activities, and projects under the National Food Safety Initiative. She has a long history of promoting public health in the areas of food borne disease, chemical contamination, surveillance, and risk assessment.

The Special Service Award for outstanding service to the College and the veterinary profession went to Dr. Dan Parmer (Auburn ’50), administrator of the Cook County (Ill.) Department of Animal Control.

Dr. Parmer has also served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Veterinary Corps and held positions in public health and private practice. He has chaired the board of directors of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and served on committees of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Chicago VMA.

From left, Drs. Tom Champley, Jagjit (Jack) Brar, Dan Parmer, Eric Neumann, and Herbert Whiteley, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Alumni Merit Award for outstanding accomplishments in the field of practice, contributions to the progress of veterinary medicine, and good citizenship and community service was given to Dr. Tom Champley (IL ’71), owner of Pines Meadow Veterinary Clinic in Oregon, Ill. Dr. Champley has been involved in 4-H and other youth programs, the Ogle County Animal Control Department, the mentoring program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Illinois State and Northern Illinois VMAs.

Dr. Jagjit (Jack) Brar (Punjab Agricultural University ’63) Owner, Dorchester Animal Hospital, Chicago, Ill., received the Service Award, which honors meritorious service to the veterinary profession by someone who is not an Illinois alumnus.

As chair of the veterinary technician continuing education committee of the Chicago VMA, Dr. Brar instituted changes that brought in nationally known speakers and led to a dramatic increase in attendance.

Class of 1960 Meet

Dr. and Mrs. Donald Reeder hosted the 43rd consecutive annual reunion of the Class of 1960 in Branson, Mo., in September. Seventeen members and spouses “participated in aquatic, musical, and cultural venues,” according to Dr. Ronald Kolar. The class is discussing a visit to James Herriot’s England for 2004.

Warm Hearts for the Holidays with Vet Med Afghan

The Auxiliary to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association is selling afghans that feature scenes from the College as a way to raise money for veterinary student scholarships. To view the images and get details on ordering the afghan, visit the Web at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/advancement/.