A holiday greeting from Hodes Family Dean Bonnie Rush & Friends
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Veterinary students receive prestigious AAEP scholarships
By Wendy Barnes
Two K-State College of Veterinary Medicine students, Anne Brien and Bailey Fritz, were awarded $5,000 scholarships on Nov. 20 at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 68th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Both are third-year veterinary students who received the support of their clinical instructors and AAEP members during the application process.
Dr. Chrissie Schneider, senior equine professional services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health (at right), presents the 2022 Merck Animal Health Scholarships to K-State third-year student Anne Brien (left) and one of the four other veterinary students received this scholarship. (Photos courtesy of AAEP)
Anne and Bailey were two out of 16 scholars who received scholarships from the Foundation of the Horse. The scholarships are given to veterinary students at veterinary colleges throughout the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Europe in recognition of their academic excellence and leadership roles in both their college and their AAEP student chapter, as well as their long-term plans in equine science.
Anne received one of four $5,000 Merck Animal Health Scholarships. The award recognizes veterinary students who plan on pursuing careers in equine practice.
“We are incredibly proud to support these five future equine veterinarians through our continued partnership with the AAEP and its charitable arm, The Foundation for the Horse,” said Bryant Craig, DVM, equine professional services for Merck Animal Health. “These students represent the future of care and welfare for horses, and Merck Animal Health knows their leadership will help move our mission forward by advancing the science of healthier animals.”
Dr. Bill Rood, retired co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, awards the 2022 Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship to Bailey Fritz, a dual degree DVM-PhD student at Kansas State University.
Bailey Fritz, a dual degree DVM-Ph.D. student, was the sole recipient of the 2nd Annual Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship.
Bailey plans to pursue a career in equine medicine and pharmacology upon completion of her DVM in 2024 and Ph.D. in physiology in 2025.
“I would love to work in academia in the future, where I hope to both practice medicine and conduct research on the physiology and treatment of chronic pain and injury in horses,” Bailey says. “I am specifically interested in investigating navicular syndrome and osteoarthritis, for which we don’t have effective therapies. Training in surgery and pharmacology will equip me to solve these problems and enable me to translate my work to human medicine.”
Managed through the Foundation for the Horse, the endowed scholarship was established in 2021 by friends, colleagues, and clients of the retired co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
Dr. Rood received his DVM degree from the University of California, Davis, in 1972 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky in 1975. He started an ambulatory equine practice in Lexington while in law school. In 1982 he partnered with Tom Riddle, DVM, to form what is now Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, which has grown to encompass the original hospital and a veterinary pharmacy in Lexington, as well as satellite hospitals in Saratoga Springs, New York, and Wellington, Florida.
For more information about this program and other scholarships offered through the Foundation for the Horse, visit www.foundationforthehorse.org.
Kansas Livestock Foundation/Cartridges for Cash scholarships
Five Kansas State University veterinary students were among 27 scholarship winners statewide recognized at the annual Kansas Livestock Association Convention Nov. 30 in Wichita. A total of $30,000 was presented by the Kansas Livestock Foundation and its partners. Each of the five K-State veterinary students received a $1,500 Cartridges for Cash Scholarship from Merck Animal Health and KLF, which is awarded to a veterinary student with a career goal of being a large animal veterinarian.
Pictured (front row, L to R) Emma Albers, Chancy Johnson, Corley Becker, Lauren Gatz, Jessica Jensen, (middle row, L to R) Mackenzie Birney, Jordan Sylvester, Grace Fike, Valerie Haskett, Rachel Miner, Lauren Aust, Cailin Parks, (bacl row, L to R) Lily Judd, Anna Westerman, Chanae Parker, Korben Clawson, Jacob Argabright, Aiden Yoho, Grace Luebcke and Weston Schrader. Not pictured: Tegan Bowers and Alyssa Leslie. (Courtesy Photo)
Third-year veterinary student awardees were Tegan Bowers of Oskaloosa and Valerie Haskett of Agra. Alyssa Leslie is a first-year veterinary student from Manhattan. Grace Luebcke of Marysville and Rachel Miner of Manhattan are both fourth-year students.
The Kansas Livestock Foundation was established in 1983 to operate solely and exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes.
First-year student Alyssa Leslie and third-year student Tegan Bowers are the two scholars who were not pictured with the larger group of KLA scholarship recipients.
The Kansas Livestock Association is a trade organization protecting the business interests of independent ranchers, feeders and dairy farmers. Members of the association are involved in all segments of the livestock industry, including cow-calf production, backgrounding, cattle feeding, swine, dairy and sheep. The association's work is funded by voluntary dues paid by its 5,700 members.
Maria Lou receives Westfall Award; organizes GSA social event
While it looks like she's literally rolling in the dough, Maria Lou, a doctoral candidate in the Department Anatomy and Physiology, cooked up a fun social event for the Graduate Student Association. She was also recently recognized by her department with the prestigous Jane A. Westfall Graduate Student Fellowship Award for Women. Learn why she was chosen for the award and see how she inspired fellow graduate students to step up for a fun baking challenge.
"In order to be eligible for the Westfall Award, I had to be enrolled in the A&P department, possess a Bachelor of Science degree, demonstrate academic capability of being highly competent in the field of research and have or will present research at a national level," Maria said. "I'm currently a doctoral candidate with a research emphasis in animal behavior and welfare and am advised by Dr. Abbie V. Viscardi."
Dr. Hans Coetzee, University Distinguished Professor and head of A&P, presents Maria Lou with the Jane A. Westfall Graduate Student Fellowship Award for Women.
Maria's research focuses on investigating different strategies to help mitigate pain piglets may experience when undergoing routine on-farm processing procedures such as tail docking and surgical castration.
"My projects have involved evaluating the utility of a CO2 surgical laser to reduce pain and improve wound healing in piglets after tail docking," Maria said. "I am also currently investing the effects of delivering a pain-relieving drug (Firocoxib) to piglets through their mother's milk after administering the drug orally to the sow, which is referred to as "transmammary delivery".
The late Dr. Jane A. Westfall, professor emeritus of neural anatomy in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, established an endowment fund in 1999 to offer the Dr. Jane A. Westfall Graduate Student Fellowship for Women.
“When I came to Kansas State University in 1967, there were only two women and 70 men in the class studying for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree,” Dr. Westfall said in 2017. “I have enjoyed seeing the rise of women in the veterinary field. I wish all veterinary students to have equality and diversity in life and fulfillment with the animals they treat.”
Dr. Westfall was promoted to associate professor in 1970, and to full professor in 1976 — the first woman to do so in the College of Veterinary Medicine. She retired in 1999 after serving on the faculty for 32 years. Dr. Westfall passed away Jan. 24, 2021.
Maria has another role on top of her doctoral studies; she serves as the social chair officer for the Graduate Student Association. She recently organized a social event for the graduate students on Dec. 8 at DoughBro, a local Manhattan bakery.
Maria Lou and other members of the GSA roll out dough while learning to back cinnamon rolls.
"The owner of the DoughBro, Melissa Asper, taught us how to bake their famous cinnamon rolls," Maria said. "Each graduate student was able to make a full dozen cinnamon rolls to take home and share with family and friends. While we waited for them to bake, Melissa taught us how to make the icing and we also participated in some fun arts and crafts decorating our cinnamon roll boxes."
GSA students tour the kitchen at DoughBro.
Maria said both master's and Ph.D. from A&P, DMP, Clinical Sciences and the Master of Public Health program attended the baking demonstration.
"The students gave positive feedback and are interested in having another event like it in the future," Maria said. "We would like to give a BIG thank you to Melissa and her family for organizing such a wonderful and fun event!"
The students prepared boxes in which to take home their cinammon rolls.
Dr. Susan Nelson shares tips on picking right pet food for cat, dog
When it comes to selecting the right pet food for your dog or cat, a Kansas State University veterinarian says always check the package labeling carefully and be wary of some of the words used to describe the product. Checking the product's ingredient list is the most common way pet owners select a pet food, but even the ingredient list and words on packaging can be misleading, said Dr. Susan Nelson, clinical professor at the Veterinary Health Center.
"When it comes to the marketing of pet foods, manufacturers know the ingredient list is one of the primary reasons consumers purchase a food, but manufacturers also know they can manipulate the list, staying within legal guidelines, to make the food more attractive to consumers," Dr. Nelson said. "Keep in mind, too, that the ingredient list doesn't tell you the quality of the ingredients used or if they are used in the proper amounts to provide optimal nutrition."
Ingredients on a pet food label are listed in rank by their pre-processed weight and not by their weight in the finished product. The heaviest ingredients — including those with water in them— are listed first.
"For example, if whole chicken is listed as the first ingredient, the amount of chicken in the food usually weighs much less after processing and would move down the list in rank if the ingredient weight was actually listed after it was processed," Dr. Nelson said.
Many of the words used to describe a pet food on its package are lures that make the food sound more healthful, but some of these words have no legal or scientific definition when it comes to pet food advertising, Dr. Nelson said.
One example is the use of the word "natural" to describe some pet food. Pet food in the U.S. is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which partners with the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, a voluntary organization that establishes guidelines for ingredient definitions, product labels, feeding trials and laboratory analyses of the nutrients that go into pet foods based on the latest findings of pet food research. While the FDA does not have a legal definition of what is natural, the association does.
"Per the AAFCO definition, the term natural can apply to a single ingredient or to a product as a whole," Dr. Nelson said. "All ingredients in a natural dog food product must meet AAFCO's definition of natural. In these formulas, all ingredients except vitamins and minerals must come from non-synthetic sources. If any synthetic ingredients are added, it must be stated on the label."
Another term Dr. Nelson said to be wary of is "holistic," which does not have a legal definition by the FDA or the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
"Because of this, the term holistic is used freely without any regulation or oversight," Dr. Nelson said. "Holistic is a marketing term used by many pet food companies to imply whole body health. If a dog food label claims it's both natural and holistic, only the word natural has any defined meaning."
Nelson also cautions that while many ingredients listed in the pet food — especially toward the bottom of the label — may sound appealing to a pet owner, they may have little or no nutritional value for the pet. Examples are apricots and parsley.
"Having a very long list of ingredients does not necessarily make it a better food," Dr. Nelson said. "Conversely, a very short ingredient list might indicate that a diet is not nutritionally complete and balanced for your pet."
According to Nelson, here are some of the ingredients a pet owner should avoid in their pet's food:
Flaxseed in cat food as a source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Cats lack the ability to utilize flaxseed, Nelson said, so there is no added benefit when it is added to their foods.
Garlic and onions. "Their use can lead to a type of anemia — destruction of red blood cells — in dogs and even more so in cats," Dr. Nelson said.
Exotic ingredients such as kangaroo, bison and lentils. "Not as much is known about their nutritional effects, interaction with other nutrients, safety and bioavailability as with the more common, well-studied ingredients," Dr. Nelson said. "Studies are currently needed to assess these concerns."
Grain-free pet foods. While grain-free pet foods may be popular with many pet owners, Nelson said most dogs and cats aren't allergic to grains, so grain-free foods aren't necessarily better for them. "Many grains provide a valuable source of protein and carbohydrates when processed appropriately," she said. "Research has shown that the modern dog's digestive tract has evolved over time to process grains more efficiently than their predecessors, likely due to their close relationship with humans."
Dr. Nelson does recommend looking for pet foods labeled "complete and balanced" for the life stage of the pet.
"The two life stages with AAFCO definitions are adult maintenance, and growth and reproduction," Dr. Nelson said. "Foods that are marketed for 'all life stages' must meet the more stringent AAFCO guidelines for growth and reproduction."
If the pet food does say it is complete and balanced, then it must also have a specific statement, known as the AAFCO statement, saying that it meets these requirements either by feeding trials and/or meeting specific formulation guidelines, Nelson said.
"This statement is often difficult to find on the bag as it can be in very small print," she said.
Always make sure any pet food selected meets the requirements for the life stage of their pet, such as puppy food for puppies and adult dog food for adult dogs.
"Pet owners should be aware that feeding an all life stages food to an already overweight adult dog or cat can contribute to obesity, as these foods often have higher caloric density to meet the needs of growing and reproducing animals," Dr. Nelson said. "Also, always double-check that the food chosen is not labeled for intermittent feeding only, as when fed long-term, these foods can lead to nutritional imbalances and inadequacies."
For more information on selecting the right pet food, Dr. Nelson recommends the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Nutrition Committee's 2021 Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods and checking with your veterinarian.
Find out more about how K-State pet food research and pet health work are benefiting dogs and cats in the latest issue of Seek, K-State's research magazine.
Special Feature: Year In Review — in Pictures!
A look back at some of the many activities and events in the College of Veterinary Medicine that happened during 2022. While this is not a comprehensive list of every news headline, we hope these images evoke some great memories while some of these pictures are scenes that you may not have seen before.
February: The new WOW vehicle (Wellness on Wheels) sets up at the Douglass Community Center in Manhattan for a wellness event for people and their pets in the community. This would be just one of many regular events organized by the CVM's Community Outreach team throughout the year, in Manhattan and beyond.
March: The College of Veterinary Medicine serves as the host school for the annual symposium of the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association, or APVMA. The event included lectures, seminars and hands-on workshops/wet labs.
April: Dr. Steve Hodes, DVM class of 1979, holds up a college rejection letter he received before electing to attend K-State for veterinary school. He and his wife, Colleen (seated left), provided a gift to the college to provide veterinary students with business education, investing in their success as veterinary practice owners, while also naming the deanship in the college: Hodes Family Dean. Dr. Bonnie Rush is the inaugural dean to hold this title.
April: A Denver TV reporter, Jessie Cohen, interviews fourth-year student Rachel Miner (right) about her involvement in the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas, or VTPRK. The report aired on Denver's channel 7 and several affililated TV stations nationwide.
May: Third-year student Angela Thompson-Butler receives a puppy with assistance from fourth-year students Bairon Madrigal and Payton Wise and third-year student Walter Meyers at a Spring Heartworm Clinic held at the Douglass Center in Manhattan. The event was coordinated with Everybody Counts - Manhattan sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco and Idexx.
May: Hodes Family Dean Dr. Bonnie Rush introduces college-supporter Cheryl Mellenthin, accompanied by K-State President Richard Linton, at Commencement for the presenation of an honorary DVM degree. This is the first time the college has made such a presentation.
June: Annual class reunions included a collective gathering inside the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Auditorium for the returning classes ending in 7 and 2.
July-August: Elementary school students learn about proper dog handling during a session at the Vet Med ROCKS summer day camp. The student outreach club sponsors day camps every summer for elementary, middle school, high school and undergraduate college students. Campers are introduced to basic veterinary skills and hands-on learning activities.
August: Fourth-year students Cora Farley, Tabitha Tschenz (veterinary assistant), Kylee Nelson, Shiloh Murray, Lane Forge and Lance Berry serve as the veterinarians at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.
August: A 200 pound, 2.7-year-old sloth bear on display at Manhattan's Sunset Zoo required a root canal on one of its canines. In early August, the Zoological Medicine Service gathered members from its team: Drs. Alison Jeffrey, Jasmine Sarvi and James Carpenter and students Sammi Martin, Holly Crews, Mackenzie Grey and Shannon Lloyd, and intern Dr. Meagan Wood. They enlisted Drs. Morgan Murphy and John Whittaker from the anesthesia service; Dr. Doug Winter, the VHC's zoological and small animal veterinary dental specialist; and Dr. Clay Hallman from radiology and imaging. They were assisted by Sunset Zoo personnel Denise LeRoux and Kirk Nemechek (not pictured).
August: The first official day of classes begins, and members of the various classes gather for a group picture to help kick off the beginning of the school year.
September: Fourth-year student Katherine Clarkson, veterinary nurse intern Catherine Lowry and fourth-years students Ashley Huesman and Sloane Miller welcome some newly born piglets at the Birthing Center at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. The fair was canceled the previous two years due to the pandemic, so everyone was excited to restart this wonderful annual tradition.
September: A group of K-State veterinary students stop by the KSVDL's booth at the AABP Conference in Long Beach, California.
September: Fourth-year students perform a tracheal wash on a horse as part of an advanced equine rotation under Dr. Katie Delph Miller.
October: The college formally announces the addition of two new puppies, Snyder and Ohlde, who are KSDS Service Dogs that are being cared for and trained by the classes of 2025 and 2026 as part of a new student community service initiative. The puppies have already grown significantly since they arrived.
October: A group of Missouri and K-State veterinary students are recognized as American Royal scholars. From left, an MU student, K-State fourth-year student Tyler Pauly, another MU student, and K-State fourth-year students Brooke Falk, Jackson Ralston and Clay Carlson.
December: A large group of veterinary students, include members of the Bovine Club, attend the 2022 Winter Meeting of the Academy of Veterinary Confsultants. Drs. Brad White and Bob Larson, with the CVM's Beef Cattle Institute are lurking in the back row on the right!
Regular features
Alumni Events, Development and Continuing Education
The Veterinary Medical Alumni Association organizes alumni receptions at several of the national annual conferences plus continuing education events and more.
Microchip reveals missing dog had traveled 1,625 miles to Louisburg, Kansas
Dr. Aaron Stohs, DVM class of 2004, has been involved in a story that is making national headlines. One of his clients brought in a stray dog. Upon scanning the dog's microchip, they learned that the owner lives in Sacramento, California. Efforts have begun to reunite the owner with her dog, named Zeppelin. See the full story in this news report.
Remembering Dr. Ed Newberry, DVM 1952, through annual holiday tradition
A Christmas Day tradition honors the late Dr. Ed Newberry, DVM class of 1952, who passed away in 2019. Dr. Newberry operated the Troy and Wentzville veterinary clinics near St. Louis. Lincoln County in Missouri, honors a notable local citizen each year who was considered to be a "pillar of the community." The citizen is recognized during the annual Free Christmas Day Dinner.
Dr. Newberry is also well known for being the inventor of the Newberry Castrator, a device used to castrate bulls. He enjoyed showing off his horses up to his 95th birthday, and he was a regular at Veterans’ Coffee Talks, Kiwanis Club and spent a short stint as the Lincoln coroner during his lifetime. See the full story online.
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Class reunions for classes ending in 3's and 8's are scheduled for June 2023.
More information will be posted at a later date.
New Alumni Biography videos
New video biographies have been added to the Alumni Biography pages for Dr. Richard Daise, DVM class of 1976 and Dr. Steve Mosier, DVM class of 1966 (who passed away Sept. 11, 2022). The college is compiling biographies of our Extraordinary Graduateswith 40 years of experience or more, to share the stories of their lives and careers in the hope of creating an enduring legacy and to inspire future generations of veterinary students. If you are interested in taking part in this exciting and meaningful project, please contact alumni@vet.k-state.edu.
Submit nominations for Alumni Recognition Awards online
See our new online nomination form to nominate a fellow alumnus for one of our many annual recognition awards, presented at the national conferences: VMX, WVC, AVMA and the Annual Conference for Veterinarians. See full details at the link below.
Catherine Hickman, Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Program/Project Manager I Emily Heitmann, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Research Assistant Dr. Daniela Hernandez Muguiro, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Scott Fritz, Anatomy & Physiology, Clinical Assistant Professor Brianne Armstrong, Veterinary Health Center, Veterinary Assistant Logan Linenberger, Veterinary Health Center, Veterinary Assistant Sara Jessica Ochoa Sanchez, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Research Assistant Hannah Rafferty, Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Laboratory Technician Sara Weixelman, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Laboratory Client Services Assistant
Farewell to:
Kiley Herman, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Laboratroy Technician Emily Heitmann, Diagnostic Medicne Pathobiology, Research Associate Dr. Sara Gardhouse, Clincial Sciences, Assistant Professor Dr. Sam Hocker, Clincial Sciences, Assistant Professor Katherine Goodman, Veterinary Health Center, Veterinary Assistant Roberta Hodges, Diagnostic Medicne Pathobiology, Program/Project Consultant Alonzo Hernandez Jr., Veterinary Health Center, Animal Technician I Taylor Richter, Dean's Office, Student Programs Coordinator Emily Cox, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Research Assistant Ciara Merrick, Veterinary Health Center, Veterinary Assistant Dr. Robert DeLong, Anatomy & Physiology, Associate Professor Brad Kingsley, Vet Support Services, Custodial Specialist
Lifelines is published each month by the Marketing and Communications Office at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The editors are Joe Montgomery, jmontgom@vet.k-state.edu.
Dr. Chrissie Schneider, senior equine professional services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health (at right), presents the 2022 Merck Animal Health Scholarships to K-State third-year student Anne Brien (left) and one of the four other veterinary students received this scholarship. (Photos courtesy of AAEP)
Dr. Bill Rood, retired co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, awards the 2022 Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship to Bailey Fritz, a dual degree DVM-PhD student at Kansas State University.
August: A 200 pound, 2.7-year-old sloth bear on display at Manhattan's Sunset Zoo required a root canal on one of its canines. In early August, the Zoological Medicine Service gathered members from its team: Drs. Alison Jeffrey, Jasmine Sarvi and James Carpenter and students Sammi Martin, Holly Crews, Mackenzie Grey and Shannon Lloyd, and intern Dr. Meagan Wood. They enlisted Drs. Morgan Murphy and John Whittaker from the anesthesia service; Dr. Doug Winter, the VHC's zoological and small animal veterinary dental specialist; and Dr. Clay Hallman from radiology and imaging. They were assisted by Sunset Zoo personnel Denise LeRoux and Kirk Nemechek (not pictured).
September: A group of K-State veterinary students stop by the KSVDL's booth at the AABP Conference in Long Beach, California. 
September: Fourth-year students perform a tracheal wash on a horse as part of an advanced equine rotation under Dr. Katie Delph Miller.
The Veterinary Medical Alumni Association organizes alumni receptions at several of the national annual conferences plus continuing education events and more. 
Sarah Keatley