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April 2019 - Vol. 14, No. 4
Top Stories

 

Zoetis Research Award goes to Dr. Wenjun Ma

Dr. Frank Blecha and Dr. Wenjun Ma

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University presented its highest research award during its annual Phi Zeta Research Day activities on March 26: The 2019 Zoetis Animal Health Award for Research Excellence. Dr. Wenjun Ma was chosen as this year’s recipient. He is an associate professor of virology in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology.

Dr. Ma’s laboratory is interested in viral diseases of animals, with an emphasis on emerging zoonotic viral infections.

 

 

USDA-NIFA grant targets anaplasmosis

Brandt Skinner, Dr. Emily Reppert and Dr. Katie Reif

A research grant from the USDA in the amount of $1,199,948 is supporting work at Kansas State University toward combatting a disease that affects cattle in the U.S. and globally.

Dr. Kathryn Reif, assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology in the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, said the project focuses on optimizing antimicrobial use in order to control active infection of the hemoparasitic pathogen, Anaplasma marginale, the causative agent of bovine anaplasmosis..

 

 

Third-year student Jake Carlson repeats as AAAP scholarship recipient

Third-year student Jake Carlson

For the second year in a row, Jake Carlson, Elk Grove, California, a third-year veterinary student at Kansas State University, has been named as one of 10 students chosen nationwide to receive a $5,000 scholarship from the American Association of Avian Pathologists Foundation (AAAP Foundation) and Merck Animal Health.

These scholarships are designated for second- and third-year veterinary students who are focused on poultry health.

 

 

 

More Headlines

 

Phi Zeta Day spotlights research

Second-year student Meghan Lancaster presents her poster

The College of Veterinary Medicine held its annual Phi Zeta Research Day on March 26.

“This was a wonderful success, featuring an inspiring and insightful keynote address by Dr. Luis Montaner, who is a world-renowned HIV researcher and professor at Philadelphia’s Wistar Institute,” said Dr. Raelene Wouda, president of the Kansas State University Sigma Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta and assistant professor of oncology.

 

 

BugAPalooza showcases public health

Emma Winkley and Dr. Kate KuKanich

The Master of Public Health Program organized a contingent of representatives from its program and the CVM to appear April 1 at BugAPalooza, a public health event hosted in Manhattan City Park, sponsored by the Riley County Health Department.

Drs. Ellyn Mulcahy and Kate KuKanich along with Barta Stevenson attended the event and were joined by student volunteers, including Heather Poole and Brittany Blattner, both MPH students in the infectious disease and zoonoses track.

 

 

Dr. Zhoumeng Lin's lab members present award-winning posters and platform presentation at national meeting

Dr. Zhoumeng Lin, Dr. Jim E. Riviere, Dr. Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere, Dr. Yi-Hsien Cheng, and Dr. Miao Li.

Dr. Zhoumeng Lin reports having assembled a strong team of lab members to represent the K-State CVM at the 58th annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) in Baltimore from March 10-14.

Founded in 1961, SOT is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists from academic institutions, government and industry representing the great variety of scientists who practice toxicology in the US and abroad.

 

 

Veterinary Health Center to provide free eye exams to Central Kansas service and working animals

Dr. Amy Rankin performs eye examination on a dog.

The Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University will provide Central Kansas Service and Working Animals with free sight-saving eye exams this May. Each year, board certified veterinary ophthalmologists across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico collectively provide more than 7,500 free eye exams as of The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO®)’s ACVO/StokesRx National Service Animal Eye Exam event.

 

 

K-State to host international Rabies in the Americas conference

Rabies in the Americas conference banner

We’re "‘jazzed" to host this year’s Rabies in the Americas (RITA) conference in Kansas City! The committee is planning an informative program with innovative technology, intriguing research, and updated protocols and procedures, with activities to highlight what Kansas City has to offer. We want to make the 30th RITA extra special! Mark your calendars for Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2019. You can now visit our website for additional information. We’ll continue to publish information online as we get closer to conference time. Registration will open soon! Don’t miss out on this year’s RITA Conference!

 

Sam Cossio to give Upson Lecture

 

Regular features

 

Alumni Events, Development and Continuing Education

VMAA logo The Veterinary Medical Alumni Association organizes alumni receptions at several of the national annual conferences plus continuing education events and more. This month's section includes news about Dr. M. Gatz Riddell Jr., who was selected as this year's Alumni Fellow, plus updates on the 81st Annual Conference for Veterinarians and recently departed alumni.

 

 

News Ticker

 

More activities and accomplishments in the College of Veterinary Medicine:

Dr. Alyssa Comroe attended the ASPCA Sheltering Operation in Ohio March 5-8. She was able to shadow at the emergency shelter where animals are held from cruelty cases such as hoarding, dog fighting, etc. Dr. Comroe was able to become more prepared to deal with local ASPCA cases. Some of our students will be volunteering their time during spring break and summer vacation at this shelter.

Dr. Raghavendra Amachawadi attended the 7th Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Conference in Bangalore, India, March 3-7 where he was invited to present, “Antibiotic alternatives in food animal agriculture.”

Congratulations to Dr. Megan Wilson who is now an American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomate! Dr. Wilson completed her small animal surgery residency in July 2018. Her faculty adviser was Dr. Walter Renberg.

Drs. Hannah Turner, Kara Berke, David Biller and S.M. Schneider published, “Rectal Duplication Cyst in a Cat: A Case Report and Literature Review,” in the Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine, March 2019 edition.

Dr. Ken Harkin was invited to present three lectures at the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital Continuing Education Event in Wichita, Kansas, on March 28. Dr. Harkin presented, “Antibiotic Therapy for Leptospirosis: Do we have the right answer?”, “Myostatin Reduction for Rehabilitation and Beyond” and “Paroxysmal Dyskinesia: It’s not a seizure, is it?”

Congratulations to Jeana Owens, master's student in veterinary biomedical sciences, for winning the Histochemical Society’s Ralph D. Lillie Award at Experimental Biology 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The graduate student award is given annually for excellence in a Histochemical Society related research presentation at Experimental Biology. Jeana presented both an oral and poster presentation on the expression of host cell protease TMPRSS2 in the pig.

Congratulations to Nelwyn Cook being named one of K-State’s Employees of the Year. She will be recognized at the 42nd Annual University Support Staff Recognition Ceremony.

Po-Yu “Tony” Lai, student worker for the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, was named the 2019 Kyle Pelton Student Employee of the Year. He is an incoming member of the DVM class of 2023.

The American Association of Veterinary Clinicians held their Residents’ Professional Development and Leadership Conference March 29-30. Dr. Elizabeth Davis provided two lectures, “Approaches to effectively engage students during didactic lectures” and “How to write good exam questions to assess students’ knowledge and understanding.” She also participated in and Q&A panel. Dr. Mac Hafen provided a lecture, “Health and Wellness,” as well as participating on a Q&A panel. Dr. Davis also attended the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Leadership Academy March 5-7 in Washing D.C. This was the third and final session of the program where she received her certificate of completion.

Dr. Carlo Anselmi is a co-author on a case report recently published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports entitled, “Complete laparoscopic excision of a hepatic cyst and omentopexy in a Persian cat.”

Dr. Megan Niederwerder was an invited speaker in the general session of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, in March. The title of her talk was, "The foreign animal disease risk of feed." She also gave a presentation in the research topics session entitled "Oral infectious dose of African swine fever virus consumed naturally in feed or liquid." Dr. Niederwerder was also an invited speaker and expert panelist at the 2nd Annual Animal Microbiome Congress in Kansas City in March. The title of her talk was "Role of the gut microbiome in porcine respiratory disease complex" and the title of the panel in which she served was "Innovation in the Animal Microbiome."

Vet Med ROCKS open registration for summer camp

Vet Med ROCKS logoVet Med ROCKS, the Recruitment and Outreach Club of Kansas State, is going to be holding summer day camp from Aug. 2-6, for high school, college, middle school and grade school students (see registration page for detailed schedule and additional information).

http://www.vet.k-state.edu/asp/rocks/

Congrats to Dr. Chuck Dodd on KVMA Service Award

Dr. David Renter, Dr. Chuck Dodd and
Dr. David Renter and Dr. Andrew Hawkins (KVMA President and 2006 alumnus) congratulate Dr. Chuck Dodd on being presented with the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association's KSU Distinguished Service Award for 2018. The award was presented at the annual KVMA conference held in March.

Field trip to Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina

Visit to Rolling Hills Zoo
The Advanced Zoological/Wildlife Medicine Elective had its first day-long field trip on Saturday, March 30. The destination was the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina. The team consisted of 13 students plus interns Drs. Gail Huckins and Matt DiFazio, and Dr. James W. Carpenter. They were hosted by zoo veterinarian, Dr. Danelle Okeson, DVM class of 1996.

The class worked with rhinos (where Dr. Huckins performed a venipuncture), observed the training of a 17-foot-tall giraffe for foot care (on right: zoo technician with Dr. Huckins), performed a health examination on a coati, toured the zoo (top picture of the class shows Mango, the male orangutan through the window), and visited the incredible natural history museum!

"It was a great learning experience for the entire team!" Dr. Carpenter said.

Food animal symposium draws students to Ohio

Leah Metzger, Bella Carmona, Mia Cuccaro, Haley Bartlett, Jestina Miles, Sydni Schmidt. Middle: Paige Moritz, Haley Blazek, Leah Metzger, Ashley Zelenka, Emma Munyan, Jamie Chermak, Tara Fountain. Back: Jason Paine, Arlen Stoller, Audra Jones
Front row, from left: Leah Metzger, Bella Carmona, Mia Cuccaro, Haley Bartlett, Jestina Miles and Sydni Schmidt. Middle: Paige Moritz, Haley Blazek, Leah Metzger, Ashley Zelenka, Emma Munyan, Jamie Chermak and Tara Fountain. Back: Jason Paine, Arlen Stoller and Audra Jones

Arlen Stoller, Haley Bartlett, Leah Metzger, Audra Jones, Emma Munyan, Mia Cuccaro, and Jason Paine.

From left: Arlen Stoller, Haley Bartlett, Leah Metzger, Audra Jones, Emma Munyan, Mia Cuccaro, and Jason Paine.

A large group of students represented Kansas State University recently at the Ohio State Food Animal Medicine Student Symposium with both of our teams in the Dairy Vet Challenge.

The students gained knowledge in evaluating dairies and communicating recommendations to increase production.

The conference provided hands-on opportunities in dystocia and fetotomy, small ruminant techniques, hoof trimming, embryo transfer, necropsy and enucleations, as well as other skills.

There was an ultrasound and fetal sexing lab where 12 students practiced skills on the school’s dairy herd. Students networked with veterinary students from 19 veterinary schools and interacted with industry leaders.

Open House features newly renovated areas at the CVM

K-State Open House collage
The 2019 All-University Open House featured the public debut of several renovated areas in the College of Veterinary Medicine including the new clinical skills laboratory on the first floor of Trotter Hall and the anatomy laboratory on the third floor of Trotter. Above are some pictures from this year's Open House.

CVM minds its MANNRS

MANNRS collage
The College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture hosted 25 students visiting campus from Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS) Conference held in Overland Park, Kansas. The students toured the CVM complex and the dairy facilities on campus.

A panel discussion was held over the lunch hour comprising undergraduate, graduate and DVM students who participated in the MANRRS organization in the past. In the bottom right photo, first-year student Melissa Riley answers some questions about her experience at K-State. Dr. Bonnie Rush and Dr. Kimathi Choma also addressed the group.

In addition to the campus visit, Dr. Callie Rost and Dave Hoffman (shown above giving tours) attended the MANRRS Career Fair, and Dr. Rost gave a presentation during the conference titled “Applying to DVM Programs – What You Need to Know!”

Fond farewells to Lynn Schwandt

Lynn Schwandt retires
Congrats to Lynn Schwandt, longtime facilities employee, on retiring from the CVM. A reception was held in March in Arrow Cafe. Above right, facilities director Allan Leikam shares a few stories and parting thoughts.

 

New Arrivals/Recent Departures

 

Lifelines is published each month by the Marketing and Communications Office at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The editor is Joe Montgomery, jmontgom@vet.k-state.edu.

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