Dr. Butch KuKanich, professor of veterinary clinical pharmacology and assistant head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, along with his graduate student Ally Fitzgerald, a third-year veterinary student from Lakewood Ranch, Florida, were chosen as recipients of prestigious awards from the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics at its Biennial Symposium on Aug. 24.
Dr. KuKanich received the AAVPT Teaching Award, given in recognition of significant teaching activities in veterinary clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. The award is presented every other year during the AAVPT Biennial Symposium to recognize exceptional and sustained service either to AAVPT, or to the profession of veterinary, comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics at large.
Dr. Butch KuKanich receives the AAVPT Teaching Award from Drs. Virginia Fajt and Rob Hunter, president and president-elect of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
“I am honored to receive this award.” Dr. KuKanich said. “I believe that our primary job as faculty is to teach veterinary and graduate students, which makes this award so meaningful. The night was even more rewarding since two outstanding KSU veterinary students, Ally Fitzgerald and Ron Orchard were with me, presenting our research at the symposium.”
Dr. KuKanich earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. After four years in private practice, he entered the Ph.D. in comparative biomedical sciences program at North Carolina State University that he completed in 2005. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (ACVCP). Dr. KuKanich has been on the faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State since 2005.
Dr. KuKanich’s research interests include improving pain treatment in animals, drug interactions and drug metabolism.
Dr. KuKanich congratulates Ally on being chosen for the ACVCP/AAVPT Graduate Student Research Award for her oral presentation, “Evaluation of a Novel Opioid Formulation Containing an Abuse Deterrent in a Clinical Trial of Dogs Undergoing OHE.”
Ally Fitzgerald, Dr. KuKanich's research scholar, won the ACVCP/AAVPT Graduate Student Research Award for her oral presentation, “Evaluation of a Novel Opioid Formulation Containing an Abuse Deterrent in a Clinical Trial of Dogs Undergoing OHE.” In this clinical trial, Ally worked alongside Dr. KuKanich where she assisted with initial patient exams, surgical preparation and subsequent evaluations and data collection. Ally participated through the Veterinary Research Scholars Program at KSU.
“It is such an honor to have been chosen for this award!” Ally said. “I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to present our research findings at the AAVPT Biennial Symposium and learn from leading veterinary pharmacologists. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. KuKanich and the rest of the research team on this project. I gained a true appreciation for the large-scale impact clinical research can have on the veterinary profession as a whole. I hope to see this methadone formulation available to veterinarians around the country!”
The Graduate Student Research Award is given every year to recognize research excellence in clinical and/or basic pharmacology for residents and graduate students.
Dr. KuKanich checks in with Ron Orchard and Ally Fitzgerald during the research poster presentations at the conference.
CVM students participate in unique summer opportunities
By Piper Brandt
This summer, CVM students traveled near and far to participate in unique classes, tours and internships. Three second-year students, Tyler Blackwood, Cassandra Kroncke and Tori Matta were among many who experienced a wide array of opportunities available to veterinary students.
Second-year student Tyler Blackwood shares his view on horseback as he works with cattle at Kinsely Feeders.
Tyler interned at Kinsley Feeders near Kinsley, Kansas, where he gained insight on the feedlot sector of cattle medicine.
“I like the large numbers, the herd health protocols and the preventive medicine aspect of the field, as well as the concentration of numbers that one deals with on a day-to-day basis,” Tyler said. “Being constantly surrounded by cattle is a feeling that cannot be replicated.”
Tyler worked in all departments of Kinsley Feeders, including the hospital, feed mill, office and maintenance departments, which gave him an inside view of the cattle industry.
“At this point, I can walk onto a feedyard and know where I need to go, have an idea of what is going on and where, and understand what those people are experiencing,” Tyler said. “I can hold an educated conversation with a general manager or cattle foreman and to me, that’s huge.”
After graduation, Tyler hopes to become a feedlot consultant.
Second-year student Cassie Kroncke bonds with some puppies/future military working dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
Cassandra visited the Department of Defense’s Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where she shadowed Lt. Col. Matt Takara, a board certified internal medicine veterinarian.
The Holland Military Working Dog Hospital is responsible for providing comprehensive veterinary care for all military working dogs at the base, as well as care for working dogs worldwide.
“During this opportunity, I learned about how veterinary work is completed in the military as well as different opportunities available to veterinarians in the military,” Cassandra said. “There are multiple opportunities to travel to other countries to connect with people of different cultures and to provide communities with the best possible veterinary care.”
Among the dogs receiving care at the hospital are the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dogs undergoing training as part of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program.
“Everyone working in these hospitals genuinely cares for these animals and you can definitely see that in their day-to-day activities with them,” Cassandra said. “I am certain I will join the Veterinary Corps after graduation to work with these animals.”
Tori Matta, second-year student, helps monitor a sedated wild elephant in South Africa.
Tori, an aspiring zoo veterinarian, travelled to India through the International Veterinary Study Tours elective.
“I have always wanted to travel to India so I jumped at the chance,” Tori said. “Our group got to experience many different aspects of veterinary medicine including a veterinary college, a state government hospital, a shelter, livestock farms, two zoo hospitals and a wildlife rehabilitation center.”
Tori and the rest of the group visited two cities, Bangalore and Mysore, to participate in hands-on activities with animals native to India.
“In addition to gaining knowledge about veterinary practices in India, we were able to experience the culture,” Tori said. “We visited many tourist sites such as the Bangalore Capital building, Mysore Palace and a Hindu temple. We also had the honor to be invited into two different families’ homes for a meal.”
Tori also traveled to South Africa for a wildlife conservation medicine course through WildlifeVets, an organization that manages wildlife capture practices and offers courses for veterinarians and students.
“In my future career, I would love the opportunity to travel to different countries to consult with zoos and maybe even engage in some wildlife work,” Tori said. “This experience further fueled my desire to pursue international veterinary medicine.”
Kansas State University’s U.S.-China Joint DVM Program recently celebrated its largest graduating class during the annual homecoming event held May 29 and 30.