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Outreach Unit Numbers Its Successes
Outreach Unit Numbers Its Successes
by Dr. Allan Paul, CEPS Coordinator
It has been a very busy and productive year in the Continuing Education-Public Service/Extension (CEPS) unit.
In FY2002, our unit produced educational programs that served 2,700 registrants. A few of those are highlighted on page 3 of this newsletter. Our activities range from assisting other units in hosting meetings for specialized audiences, such as the Fifth Industrial Toxicology and Pathology Course held in Chicago, to organizing a forum for the general public on West Nile virus, which was held in Urbana just as the virus was first identified here in Champaign County.
CEPS may be best known for the annual Fall Conference, which is scheduled for October 10 and 11 this year. We anticipate a great turnout with keynote speakers covering dairy production medicine, equine nutrition, infectious disease, small animal emergency medicine, and swine health and genetics. You should have received a registration mailing, and you can now register online: www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ceps/fallconf/.
A $100,000 Alfred P. Sloan grant received last year is helping us to establish Veterinary Education Online, a core of online courses for veterinarians.
With over 13,000 individual contacts last year, the CEPS faculty are in the forefront of disseminating information to the animal-owning public on everything from Foot and Mouth Disease to fleas via seminars, phone calls, emails, and farm visits. Current faculty and their areas of expertise include Dr. Larry Firkins, swine; Dr. Gavin Meerdink, beef and feed safety; Dr. Christine Merle, business management and small animal; and Dr. Dick Wallace, dairy. We are grateful for the continued assistance of secretaries Judy Mewes and Karel Earl.
Dr. Dean Scoggins, who has given 25 years of outstanding service as equine Extension veterinarian, retires in August.
Third-year veterinary student Jennifer Stone currently writes weekly columns on companion animal health. Feel free to use these columns, available on the College Web site, as handouts for your clients.
2002 “Visionarian Class”
of the Small Animal EVP
Carla Berthold, Buffalo Grove, IL
Vicki Carter, Bloomington, IL
Cathy Curry, Springfield, IL
Lisa Eller, Arthur, IL
Colleen Koch, Jacksonville, IL
Christine Merle, Urbana, IL
Angela Mulkin, Gainesville, FL
Wanda Pipkin, Jackson, MO
Pamela Preston, Lindenhurst, IL
Jill Richardson, Urbana, IL
Angelina Rossi, Chicago, IL
Robert Schafer, Newton, IL
William Somers, Bloomington, IL
Lesa Weber, Tuscola, IL
Mary Welle, Urbana, IL
In July the “Visionarian Class” of the Executive Veterinary Program (EVP) graduated with Certificates in Small Animal Health Management (see list at right). The class members completed the two-year program to expand their communication, business, and strategic planning skills. Their final projects, on topics such as incorporating learning centers into veterinary practices, implementing marketing programs, and staff empowerment, were directly applicable to their own practices.
In fall of 2003 we are planning a new EVP specifically focused on intensive business skills for veterinarians, including accounting, micro- and macro-economics, and finance. Faculty will come from the University of Illinois College of Commerce and Business Affairs.
Information about this and other continuing education offerings through EVP will be available at www.EVPIllinois.org.
Dr. Edwin Hahn Moves to Research Post
Dr. Edwin “Ned” C. Hahn, associate professor and chair of the microbiology and immunology section in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, took on the duties of the associate dean for research and advanced studies effective August 21, 2002.
“My own research background is extremely diverse,” he notes. “I’ve worked in fields ranging from oncology to molecular biology to immunology and with animal species from cows to chickens to mongooses.”
His academic background includes a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1969 from the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University in New York, N.Y., followed by three years at the University of Hiedelberg and the German Cancer Research Centre. He then worked and studied at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research before coming to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
He will retain a 25 percent appointment in teaching and research in his home department.
For more than a decade, Dr. Hahn served as director of graduate studies for the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. Because of that role he is very familiar with the research activities in the College.
He also brings strong research connections across campus, having served on the Graduate College executive committee and committees on campus biology, tuition, and the Medical Scholars program. He has already begun building a network of useful contacts with industry, foundations, and other institutions.
The research mission of the College is integral to its teaching and service activities, according to Dr. Hahn. He also believes that a veterinary faculty has a unique opportunity to capitalize on the emerging need for “systems biologists”—researchers that integrate all the minutiae of the disciplines represented under our roof.
“We can turn our diversity into something focused,” he says.
Dr. Ronald Smith Named Interim Department Head
Dr. Ronald D. Smith, professor and director of instructional computing at the College, was recently named interim head of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. He takes the helm from Dr. James Zachary, who served as interim department head during the previous year.
Dr. Smith has been on faculty in the department since 1974 and became a full professor in 1986. He has also served as head of the Division of Epidemiology in Veterinary Pathobiology and director of medical informatics for the College.
Dr. Smith completed a DVM degree from Michigan State University in 1967. His research has focused on the epidemiology and control of vector-borne blood diseases of animals as well as on computers in veterinary medicine.
A national search for a new department head was put on hold until next summer due to “the constraints and the unpredictability of the budget situation,” according to College Dean Herb Whiteley.
Dr. Bailey Receives Norden Award
Dr. Keith Bailey, clinical assistant professor in the veterinary diagnostic laboratory and veterinary pathobiology, received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award at the April 20 awards and scholarships ceremony. Fourth-year veterinary students selected him for outstanding teaching ability as well as character and leadership qualities.
Dr. Kenneth Holmes, of veterinary biosciences, and Drs. Ted Lock and Mark Oyama, of veterinary clinical medicine, were finalists.
The $1,000 award is sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.
Nobel Veterinarian at Commencement
Dr. Peter Doherty (at left with College Dean Herb Whiteley), a researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., received an honorary degree at the campuswide commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 12. Dr. Doherty, a veterinarian originally from Australia, shared in the 1996 Nobel Prize for Medicine for discoveries concerning the specificity of the cell-mediated immune defense.
The College hosted a brunch honoring Dr. Doherty and our 2002 graduates and their families.
College Hosts Conferences and SeminarsEighty-seven registrants from 14 states attended the Toxicology Short Course 2002 on March 18 and 19. The theme of the meeting was “Common Small Animal Toxicoses.” The event was co-sponsored by the College and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
The Fifth Conference on New and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which was organized by Drs. Roberto Docampo, Mark Kuhlenschmidt, and Silvia Moreno, was held April 18-19. The Conference attracted more than 100 participants from within the College, from across the Urbana campus, and from regional institutions including local medical clinics and Midwestern universities from Northwestern to Michigan State.
There were 35 poster presentations and 8 lectures. Keynote speakers were Drs. Beatrice Hahn on how immunodeficiency viruses crossed the species barrier to humans and Dr. Matthew Waldor on how cholera toxin genes are disseminated. Also speaking were Drs. E. M. Eitzen, J. E. Donelson, W. D. Hueston, D. Goldberg, K.-P. Chang, and B. N. Kreiswirth.
Katrhyn Buchanan and Paul Cheresh from Northwestern University and JoAnn Schmidt from the College’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology shared the first prize of the poster competition.
On June 27 the College hosted a public forum to disseminate information about the West Nile virus, which was first identified in Illinois last year and has been detected in Champaign County. Panelists included Dr. John Andrews, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; Dr. Connie Austin, Illinois State Public Health Veterinarian; Garry Bird, director of environmental health for the Champaign County Public Health Department; Dr. Robert Novak, Illinois Natural History Survey; Dr. Robert Palinkas, director of McKinley Health Center; Dr. Allan Paul, coordinator of Continuing Education-Public Service/Extension group; Dr. Gail Scherba, veterinary pathobiology; and Dr. R. Dean Scoggins, equine Extension veterinarian. More than 80 people attended the forum.
The Fifth Industrial Toxicology and Pathology Course was held in Chicago July 7 to 10. Dr. Wanda Haschek-Hock was the course director. More than 40 people registered for this event, which featured 20 speakers from academia and industry.
The course objective was to enhance the participants’ skills in interpreting animal safety studies and interacting with federal regulatory agencies. One day was devoted to discussion of genetically engineered mice in the pharmaceutical industry. The course was supported by Pharmacia with contributions from Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Covance Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Health Canada, Hugh E. Black and Associates, and Pfizer Global Research and Development.
Dr. Gordon Baker Retires
Dr. Gordon Baker grew up in a farming community on the Isle of Wight, the diamond-shaped island off the southern coast of England. After finishing his veterinary training at Bristol in 1962, he returned to his home turf for 2 years of mixed agricultural practice.
Then he completed an internship in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, where one of his classmates (Alan Kelly, who since has become the dean at Penn) had gone. Dr. Baker might have stayed on there had funding been available to allow him to pursue a PhD, but fate took him in another direction.
Determined to pursue a PhD degree, Dr. Baker went to the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. In the process of earning that degree, he carved out a new niche: “I was one of the people who started interest in veterinary dentistry, especially equine dentistry. It’s a real growth industry now.”
Indeed, Dr. Baker literally wrote the book on the subject: His 1999 W.B. Saunders publication Equine Dentistry, co-edited with Dr. Jack Easley, is the first-ever textbook on this topic. One of the tasks that will keep him busy after retirement is a major rewrite of this text.
In 1969 he joined the faculty in Glasgow. After 10 years, he spent a year’s sabbatical at Michigan State University. While there, Dr. Borje Gustafsson, then head of the hospital at Illinois, asked him to become chief of equine medicine and surgery here. At the time, research funds were very tight in the United Kingdom. Dr. Baker arrived in 1981 and has been here ever since.
When asked to reflect on his achievements at Illinois, Dr. Baker says: “We’ve had a very recognized and meritorious program for residents and graduate training, we’ve recruited good faculty who are great teachers and researchers, and we’ve built a good client base, with good relationships with referring veterinarians.”
Dr. Baker is also proud of his participation in shared governance at this institution. He was a member of the campus senate, where he enjoyed “open, honest vigorous exchange of ideas.”
He also chaired the committee that established a program to reward non-tenure-track clinical faculty for their contributions to the department. “The clinical caseload that comes in the front door is the basis for all our ongoing research programs,” he notes.
Dr. Baker says he will miss being on the clinical floor and interacting with clients and students, but he will maintain a presence in the clinic and continue learning about equine dentistry.
Dr. Gary Koritz Retires
Dr. Gary Koritz, professor in veterinary biosciences, retires August 20.
Dr. Koritz received a DVM degree from the University of Illinois in 1968. Following 2 years of small animal practice at Dundee Animal Hospital, he returned to the University to receive his PhD in veterinary pharmacology in 1975. He subsequently joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, where he taught and conducted research.
He served on the FDA Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee from 1993 to 1997 and as president of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology from 1997 to 1999.
In retirement, he hopes to sail and travel as well as serve as a consultant to the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. He and his wife Barbara plan to continue to live in Champaign.
Dr. R. Dean Scoggins Retires
When Dr. Dean Scoggins took the reins as an equine Extension veterinarian in 1977, he was the first full-time person in that role in Illinois. He looks back on his varied career now and declares that it’s been a very good ride.
Dr. Scoggins pursued a DVM from Michigan State University at the encouragement of Dr. Byron Good. After graduation in 1960, he spent 17 years in private practice, including 3 years as the resident veterinarian at the Al-Marah Arabian horse farm in Maryland.
Working in Extension has a lot of similarities to being in practice, according to Dr. Scoggins, so his experience was a real asset. His primary responsibilities included developing and conducting equine and ovine health educational programs for veterinarians and animal owners.
Dr. Scoggins has been very active in the horse community, both throughout Illinois and nationally. He has served in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Horseman’s Council of Illinois, and the animal welfare committee at the Illinois state fair, to name only a few. His expertise has put him in demand nationally as a speaker.
Over the years his Extension role has allowed him to pursue his interests in dentistry and behavior. In 1998, Dr. Scoggins created a series of Arabian horse training videos while on sabbatical. Recently he’s been offering a horse behavior class for veterinary students, especially those who had not handled horses.
“Horses are big and quick and can be pretty intimidating,” he says. “But it’s like learning to cook. You just have to get a pot and start stirring.”
Dr. Scoggins will continue to stir the pot after retirement. He plans to consult for his son’s horse ranch in Illinois, work with horse owners on behavior issues, and teach equine behavior seminars to veterinary students and consult with several horse farms, including Al-Marah Arabians of Tucson, Ariz.
Transition to Clinical Rotations Celebrated
For the third year, a “white coat” ceremony was held at the College to mark the passing of third-year veterinary students into their fourth-year program of clinical rotations. More than 200 students, faculty, family, and friends attended the May 5 ceremony in which each student donned a white clinical jacket embroidered with the student’s last name. The ceremony was supported in part by the Hill’s Student Feeding Committee.
On April 27, a similar program recognized the transition for students with a primary interest in pursuing a large animal career. A “green coverall” ceremony was held at a local restaurant; faculty and current fourth-year students who focused on food animal or equine rotations welcomed the new seniors.
Fall Conference Comes Loaded with OptionsThe 2002 Fall Conference for Veterinarians, to be held October 10 and 11 in Urbana, offers something for everyone, so be sure to sign up now.
Enrollment is limited for extra-conference seminars and wet labs. “Solving Dairy Herd Nutrition Problems,” a daylong seminar scheduled for October 9, will be led by Drs. Dick Wallace and Mike Hutjens. Wet labs in canine dental extractions, canine dental radiology, and small animal emergency and critical care medicine will be held Thursday and Friday.
The third annual job fair will take place Wednesday evening at the Illinois Terminal Building in downtown Champaign. Employers who purchase a table may earn continuing education credit at an afternoon workshop on legal issues in interviewing.
The main program features Illinois faculty, including newcomers Drs. John Angus, Lance Bassage, Dianne Dunning, Dominique Griffon, Joan Jorgensen, Steve Marks, and Julie Whittington, along with many experts familiar to our alumni. Returning as keynote speakers are Illinois alumni Drs. Richard French (’87) and Elizabeth Rozanski (’92). Other outside speakers include Drs. Mark Eisenhart, Sara Ralston, and Fred Sick.
For a full program of events and to register, visit the Web site at http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ceps/fallconf/ or call 217/333-2907 to have the program faxed to you.
Hands-on Learning for All Ages at Open House
The annual Open House was held on a beautiful Saturday, April 6. Thousands attended to visit familiar exhibits and see some new ones.
Judges awarded first place to the small animal surgery exhibit, a tie for second to canine/feline medicine and the fistulated cow, and a tie for third to animal behavior and the Wildlife Medical Clinic.
Third-year students Mandy Huiser, Donna Draves, and Valerie Mahoney were the leaders for this student-run event.
Major sponsors were the Hill’s Student Feeding Committee and Pfizer Animal Health. The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association sponsored the students’ pizza lunch before the Open House set-up on Friday.
Thanks for additional financial support is due the following organizations: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni Association, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Mississippi Valley Veterinary Medical Association, Prairieland Feeds, and Nestlé Purina Pet Care.
Sold to the Lady in the Second Row!Don’t miss this year’s exciting scholarship auction following the Thursday evening banquet at Fall Conference. More than $37,000 has been raised and eight $1,000 scholarships awarded to recognize student excellence and ease the cost of veterinary education.
The College and the Auxiliary to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, the auction’s cosponsors, are now accepting quality items for the live and silent auctions. Suggestions include:
• autographed memorabilia, artwork, photographs, sports equipment or clothing
• tickets or gift certificates to theater productions, sporting events, or restaurants
• packages to bed and breakfast inns, fishing or river rafting trips, snow skiing, or golf resortsFor more information or to make a donation, please contact Kimberly Meenen, director of development, at 217/333-2762 or k-meenen@uiuc.edu or contact Kelli Nichols, Auxiliary auction chair, at agknich@msn.com.
Wild Night Raises $15K
Drawings by Joe Theisman, Ashley Judd, Steve Martin, and dozens of other celebrity personalities were auctioned off in support the Wildlife Medical Clinic at the April 13 “Doodle for Wildlife” event. Other items on the auction block included gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses and
behind-the-scenes tour of Brookfield Zoo.The evening raised more than $15,000 for the clinic. WMC student managers Beth Ellen McNamara and Michèle Forbes organized the event, with help from WMC medical director Dr. Julie Whittington, the many student WMC volunteers, and staff support within the College.
Another fund-raiser is planned for next spring.
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