![[Sidebar]](images/mast02.gif)
|
|
Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta Receives AAHA Award
Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta Receives AAHA Award
Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta, veterinary clinical medicine, received the Innovative Veterinary Diets Award on March 25, at the American Animal Hospital Association’s 69th Annual Meeting in Boston. This award is given to a veterinarian in recognition of significant contributions to small animal veterinary medicine and surgery.
In accepting the award Dr. Manfra, left, with Colin Ferguson of Innovative Veterinary Diets, mentioned her gratitude to AAHA and to Dr. George Rogers, who nominated her.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has made this award possible, including Innovative Diets, my mentors, colleagues, residents, students, and family for their continual support throughout my career,” says Dr. Manfra. “I thank God for helping me achieve my dreams of becoming a veterinarian, for without him none of my accomplishments would be possible.”
Dr. Manfra has won many awards in teaching and veterinary dentistry, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award in 1992, the American Veterinary Dental Society Education and Research Award in 1999, and a Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching in 2001.
She has served on the board of the American Veterinary Dental College, has published widely and given more than 230 presentations, and has received numerous grants for her work in veterinary dentistry. She recently collaborated on a National Institutes of Health dentistry and craniofacial research project.
Winckler Joins College as Assistant Dean of Administration
Ginger Winckler joined the College this January as assistant dean of administration. Although new to the College, she is not new to the University. She most recently served as the assistant director for the Coordinated Science Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research unit.
Winckler’s position serves as the primary administrator of business affairs for the College. She is responsible for College-wide policy related to planning, financial management, facilities management, human resources administration, computing services, and the biomedical communication area.
She received her master’s in education from Oregon State University and then moved to Florida with her husband, Gary. She worked for six years as a schoolteacher, and then spent three years working for a private computer company. In 1985, they came to Urbana when Gary received the head coaching position for women’s track and field. Winckler worked at the National Center of Supercomputing (NCSA) for seven years; starting as a computer support person and eventually moving into management.
With this background, she feels she brings a wide range of professional credentials to the College, which will enable her to be an advocate for the College with interdisciplinary initiatives and with the campus administration.
Winckler hopes to provide an environment that supports the excellence of the College faculty and students.
“I’d like to develop stronger connections with campus for the College” Winckler says. “We can benefit from interactions with faculty, students, and personnel in other colleges and departments.”
Illinois Students Score at SAVMA SymposiumThe Symposium of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association was held March 14 to 16 at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Nearly 150 veterinary students from the College raised funds and made the trek over their spring break.
Second-year students Will Sutkay (left) and Jeremy Baitman give a celebratory lift to Rosemary J. LoGiudice, assistant director of membership and field services with the American Veterinary Medical Association, at the SAVMA Symposium.This year Illinois students won the academic challenge at Symposium for first time. In this event four-person teams from a dozen schools completed a 90-minute examination on canine and equine anatomy, case studies, and breed identification. The Illinois team was composed of third-year students Joshua Decker, Jennifer Libbra, and Mary Mansfield and second-year student Nathan Kice.
In the research competition second-year student Molita Birchen earned third place among 15 entrants with her 10-minute oral presentation entitled “Development of a DNA amplification assay for detection of Mycoplasma species in bulk tank milk.”
In addition, 10 students hauled Illinois to a second-place victory in the tug-of-war competition.
What the Veterinary Health Enhancement Act Could Do for YouThe Veterinary Health Enhancement Act would provide debt assistance or scholarship programs to veterinary students who agree to work after graduation in areas where a shortage of veterinarians exists. H.R.1943/S.1836 is modeled after the National Health Service Corps, a program that provides debt assistance to medical, dental, and nursing students who agree to work in underserved areas. A similar program currently does not exist for veterinary students.
Cosponsors are needed for both bills. The American Veterinary Medical Association is asking members to urge their Representative and Senator to support these bills by signing on as cosponsors to the legislation. This is especially important for members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
For additional information, contact the AVMA-Governmental Relations Division at 202/789-0007 to speak with Dr. Bernadette Dunham at extension 611 or Ms. April Demert at extension 624.
![[Second-year students Will Sutkay (left) and Jeremy Baitman raise Rosemary J. LoGiudice, assistant director of membership and field services with the American Veterinary Medical Association]](images/savma.jpg)